Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and calciphylaxis are disorders that develop as a consequence of disturbances in calcium and phosphate metabolism, and involve inflammatory processes in which levels of circulating calcification inhibitors, such as fetuin-A3, matrix-Gla protein4, 5, pyrophosphate and osteopontin, are reduced while promoters of calcification are increased. Here, SPP1 is linked to chronic kidney disease.