Which tools are in your cardiac workshop? Carotid ultrasound, endothelial function, and magnetic resonance imaging

Effects of lacidipine on vascular responses in patients with coronary artery disease

“…Several studies showed that the remote wall of the common carotid artery is the most reliable part for the examination of carotid IMT, and that a computerized detection method is superior to an ordinary caliper measurement [1,2,16]. We followed results of these studies and recommendations in our study.…”

“…A blinded sonographer measured carotid artery IMT on the day of or 1 day after coronary angiography using high- [16].…”

Noninvasive Ultrasound Techniques for the Assessment of Atherosclerosis in Coronary Artery Disease

“…Large cohort studies, such as the Multiethnic Studies of Atherosclerosis (MESA) in which FMD, carotid IMT, and vascular compliance are measured cross-sectionally in 6,500 patients and then observed prospectively for 10 years are underway 150 and should help define the future role of noninvasive US in clinical practice.…”

Measurement of carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaque detection for cardiovascular risk assessment

“…80 In another study of 210 individuals, described in a review article, improved patient adherence to recommendations regarding diet, exercise, and smoking cessation 1 month after seeing pictures of their carotid IMT also was described. 81 A recent Cochrane systematic review on providing visual feedback of imaging results to patients as a motivator for changing health behaviors was inconclusive. 82 To date, the only randomized clinical trial that addressed clinical outcomes in individuals treated with risk factor interventions based on CIMT values was a randomized clinical trial of 984 subjects with a focal CIMT [1.2 mm who would not have qualified for lipidlowering therapy on the basis of their risk factors and LDL cholesterol levels, but who were randomized to receive placebo or rosuvastatin.…”