Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Non-invasive Assessment of Microvascular and Endothelial Function
05:41

Non-invasive Assessment of Microvascular and Endothelial Function

Published on: January 29, 2013

Digital thermal monitoring of vascular function: a novel tool to improve cardiovascular risk assessment

Khawar M Gul1, Naser Ahmadi, Zhiying Wang

  • 1Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, USA.

Vascular Medicine (London, England)
|April 16, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Digital thermal monitoring (DTM) can detect vascular dysfunction in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. Lower temperature rebound after cuff occlusion indicates impaired vascular function, potentially identifying high-risk individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Vascular Function Assessment
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Digital thermal monitoring (DTM) assesses vascular function by measuring fingertip temperature changes during reactive hyperemia.
  • Reactive hyperemia, a response to blood flow restoration after occlusion, is influenced by endothelial function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the utility of DTM in identifying vascular dysfunction in individuals with and without coronary heart disease (CHD).
  • To correlate DTM-derived metrics with established cardiovascular risk scores.

Main Methods:

  • 133 participants (19 with known CHD) underwent DTM during and after 2 minutes of supra-systolic arm cuff inflation.
  • Simultaneous measurement of fingertip temperatures in occluded and non-occluded hands.
  • Analysis of post-cuff deflation temperature rebound (TR) in relation to CHD status and Framingham Risk Score (FRS).

Main Results:

  • Lower post-cuff deflation temperature rebound (TR) was observed in patients with CHD and those with a higher FRS.
  • After adjusting for covariates, TR remained significantly lower in the CHD group (p < 0.05).
  • DTM-measured vascular dysfunction was associated with the presence of CHD and elevated cardiovascular risk.

Conclusions:

  • DTM is a potential tool for assessing vascular dysfunction associated with CHD.
  • DTM-derived metrics may help identify individuals at higher cardiovascular risk.
  • This non-invasive method shows promise for clinical application in cardiovascular risk stratification.

More Related Videos

A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology09:33

A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology

Published on: February 7, 2015

Fundus Photography as a Convenient Tool to Study Microvascular Responses to Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Epidemiological Studies10:11

Fundus Photography as a Convenient Tool to Study Microvascular Responses to Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Epidemiological Studies

Published on: October 22, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Assessing Blood pressure using a doppler ultrasound01:19

Assessing Blood pressure using a doppler ultrasound

To obtain accurate blood pressure measurements in clinical settings, especially when traditional methods are insufficient, healthcare professionals utilize the Doppler ultrasound technique. This method uses high-frequency sound waves to detect blood flow within the arteries, which is crucial for patients with conditions that complicate circulatory system assessment.
Pre-Procedural Guidelines for Doppler Ultrasound Blood Pressure Assessment:
Preparation of Equipment:
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers01:20

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers

Cardiac biomarkers are enzymes, proteins, and hormones released into the blood when cardiac cells are injured. They are powerful tools for triaging.
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation01:21

Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation

Clinical manifestationsPeripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) manifests through a range of symptoms, from the characteristic intermittent claudication to atypical presentations and severe complications in advanced stages. Intermittent claudication, a hallmark symptom of PAD, presents as exercise-induced muscle pain that typically resolves within minutes of rest. This pain is reproducible and stems from inadequate blood flow, leading to the accumulation of lactic acid produced during anaerobic...