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 |