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