Lung function and aortic calcification--hardening the evidence or inflaming the need for further research?

摘要

Large elastic arteries such as the aorta not only provide a conduit for blood flow but also fulfill a dynamic role in buffering the large intermittent pressure changes due to ventricular ejection in order to minimise end organ and mi-crovascular damage and allow a more constant blood flow through smaller vessels. However, this buffering capacity is lost during the ageing process and in disease states associated with premature vascular ageing.