Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease showed a non‐significant trend towards lower vascular Klotho mRNA levels as compared with subjects without atherosclerosis: Log a.u. in atherosclerotic patients, 0.41 ± 0.11 versus non‐atherosclerotic patients, 0.82 ± 0.24 (P = 0.11). The gene discussed is KL; the disease is atherosclerosis.