Atherocalcinosis

**Introduction** Atherocalcinosis is a pathological process in atherosclerotic plaques, which is characterized by the deposition of calcium mineral salts in their composition. This phenomenon is associated with the processes of the inflammatory reaction of the vascular walls due to the deposition of lipids and proteins on the walls of the arteries. Over time, this process can lead to pathological changes in the vascular wall, which can ultimately cause serious problems with human health, such as impaired blood supply to tissues, and with pronounced changes, coronary heart disease.

**Etiology** The formation of calcified salts occurs under the influence of several factors. The formation of insoluble calcium “stone” plaque on the walls is a consequence of hypercalcemia in the blood and bones. If the calcium level is normal, then this condition may be associated with metabolic disorders, increased production of interleukins, prostaglandins, biologically active substances that regulate metabolism and growth. Calcification can also occur due to weak activity of enzymes responsible for dissolving and removing calcium from the body, and inadequate production of its antagonists, such as osteocalcin or protease inhibitors.

Over time, excessive amounts of salt crystals can settle on the artery wall, forming hard plaques that impair blood flow. Calcification increases as the amount of mineral salt deposits increases, which are observed in atherosclerosis. In this case, a plaque is formed, which can cause stratification of the vessel walls.

The reason that minerals can predominate in plaque is that there are several pathological factors that can cause it. Due to changes in metabolism, there is an increase in the excess production of connective tissue matrices consisting of collagen fibers, blood clotting elements and lipids - necessary for the formation of fat deposits. Given the congenital instability of lipid metabolism, calcification formations become more and more pronounced. Subsequently, calcium may begin to precipitate and accumulate on the inner walls of the artery. This is how the first signs of atherocosclerosis may appear.

The main factors influencing the formation of calcified deposits are the following:

- Impaired fat metabolism, high release of fatty acid by the body; - Formation of various defects in the metabolic processes of carbohydrates in humans; - Chronic tension of the musculoskeletal system; - Early stage of atherosclerosis; - Excessive intake of sodium and calcium from food into the body. Other causes of salt deposition may be altered water-electrolyte balance, as well as a disorder of the autonomic nervous system. These factors are capable of maintaining a state of hypocalcemic excitability, leading to excessive synthesis of activators of oxidative processes, which activate lipid metabolism and are involved in the creation of lipid deposits on blood vessels.

Modern research suggests possible reasons for the conversion of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) in a metabolically less active state into high-density lipoproteins (HDL). This process involves the transport of part of the LDL from the periphery to the liver. The destruction of lipoprotein molecules inside the arterial intima is possible due to the action of various pathological components. In case of destruction of lipoprotein membranes