Detection of presymptomatic atherosclerosis: a current perspective

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Biomarkers

Background:

• Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of death globally, driving myocardial infarction and stroke.
• Early detection of atherosclerosis is vital for developing effective prevention strategies and reducing mortality.
• Understanding early pathophysiology enables the development of novel diagnostic methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review promising techniques for detecting early, presymptomatic atherosclerosis.
• To highlight methods for assessing both structural and functional changes in early atherosclerosis.
• To identify individuals at highest cardiovascular risk.

Main Methods:

• Electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for coronary artery structural changes.
• External vascular ultrasound for surrogate markers (e.g., carotid intima-media thickness).
• Non-invasive ultrasound for endothelial dysfunction assessment and analysis of serum markers.

Main Results:

• Structural assessment techniques like EBCT and MRI can visualize early arterial changes.
• Functional assessment, particularly endothelial dysfunction via ultrasound, detects changes preceding structural alterations.
• Various serum markers show potential utility in identifying atherosclerosis.

Conclusions:

• Multiple advanced techniques offer potential for early, presymptomatic detection of atherosclerosis.
• Combining structural and functional assessments may improve cardiovascular risk stratification.
• Further research into these promising methods can enhance preventative strategies against atherosclerosis-related diseases.