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. 2018 Feb 14;5:26. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2018.00026

Table 1.

Imaging techniques for assessing cardiovascular involvement in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases.

Measurements
1.Coronary arteries
 Invasive: coronary diameter can be assessed using quantitative coronarography or intravascular ultrasound
 Non-invasive: coronary flow reserve can be assessed using transthoracic or transesophageal ultrasonography (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography, and positron emission tomography (PET) after endothelium-dependent vasodilatory provocation
2.Peripheral circulation
 Invasive: strain-gauge plethysmography of an arm after intra-arterially infusing an endothelium-dependent vasodilator
 Non-invasive: flow-mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery measured by means of US or MRI

Evaluation of general atherosclerotic alterations

1.Arterial stiffness parameters:
 Pulse wave analysis: augmentation index
 Pulse wave velocity
2.Common carotid intima-media thickness (ccIMT) and carotid plaque analysis
3.Determination of coronary calcium content