Emerging Imaging Techniques for Atherosclerosis in Systemic Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Conditions

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Radiology
• Immunology

Background:

• Atherosclerosis is more prevalent in patients with systemic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.
• Current cardiovascular imaging lacks widespread adoption for assessing atherosclerosis biology.
• Recent advancements offer enhanced diagnostic capabilities for atherosclerotic lesions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent developments in cardiac imaging for atherosclerosis evaluation.
• To highlight imaging advances in echocardiography, CT, PET, and CMR.
• To discuss specific evidence in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases and identify research gaps.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on advanced cardiovascular imaging techniques.
• Focus on echocardiography, computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).
• Analysis of studies concerning atherosclerosis in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

Main Results:

• Novel imaging modalities provide enhanced insights into atherosclerotic lesion anatomy and biology.
• Echocardiography, CT, PET, and CMR show potential for improved diagnostic yield.
• Specific applications and evidence in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases are discussed.

Conclusions:

• Advanced cardiac imaging holds significant promise for evaluating atherosclerosis, particularly in complex patient populations.
• Further research is needed to integrate these novel techniques into routine clinical practice.
• Understanding lesion biology through imaging is crucial for managing cardiovascular risk in inflammatory diseases.