Patients using vitamin K antagonists show increased levels of coronary calcification: an observational study in low-risk atrial fibrillation patients

Risk Factors for Progression of Degenerative Aortic Valve Disease in the Japanese – The Japanese Aortic Stenosis Study (JASS) Prospective Analysis –

“…Several crosssectional studies have reported the increased ratio of valvular or coronary calcification in patients treated with warfarin. 44, 45 The current study confirmed this phenomenon in a prospective observation. Recently, several new anticoagulants that exert their effects independent of vitamin K antagonization are available, and their benefits in preventing thromboembolic events are not inferior to that of warfarin.…”

“…Recently, several new anticoagulants that exert their effects independent of vitamin K antagonization are available, and their benefits in preventing thromboembolic events are not inferior to that of warfarin. 43 As warfarininduced calcification is likely promoted in patients with chronic usage or in elderly patients, 45 the results of the current and previous studies call attention to the use of warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation, in particular those who need anticoagulation chronically or elderly patients. It is interesting whether ARBs or ACEIs can cancel such effects of warfarin on DAVD, however, the number of the subjects treated with both warfarin and ARB/ACEI was small in the current study, and the ongoing JASS-2 study (UMIN ID; 000003007, https://…”

Intake of Vitamin K Antagonists and Worsening of Cardiac and Vascular Disease: Results From the Population‐Based Gutenberg Health Study

“…Arterial stiffness is influenced by the calcification of the elastic components of the artery wall, leading to hypertension. In humans, studies of limited sample size have reported an association of VKA treatment with calcification of the coronary arteries 8, 12, 13. Also, carotid intima‐media thickness is known to be correlated with atherosclerotic calcification 14.…”

Progression of coronary artery calcification at the crossroads: sign of progression or stabilization of coronary atherosclerosis?

“…Indeed, a number of medical therapies and even supplementations often used for the management of patients with hypertension or related complications such as atrial fibrillation have shown a significant association to CAC and/or plaque stabilization (55,87,88). The finding of inexorable CAC progression despite the implementation of intensive contemporaneous medical therapy might suggest that further understanding of this phenomenon should be undertaken before the implementation of CAC as a surrogate endpoint for longitudinal studies, or for prospective follow-up of patients under routine medical treatment (9,12,78).…”