Figure 1

Vasculular failure. Vascular failure represents a comprehensive syndrome of vascular dysfunction that extends from risk factors to advanced atherosclerotic disease with arterial stenosis, leading ultimately to calcification of the vessel wall and serious vascular events caused by plaque rupture and thromboembolic occlusion. Calcification includes medial calcification, e.g., in aortic wall as result of diabetes and intimal calcification, e.g., in coronary artery.