Subclinical coronary artery disease in Asian rheumatoid arthritis patients who were in remission: a pilot study.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who have active disease with longer disease duration have been reported to have increased risk of cardiovascular events compared to the normal population.

Objective: The primary aim of our study is to ascertain the prevalence of significant asymptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD) in Asian RA patients who are in remission using multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). The secondary aims of our study are the usage of pulse wave velocity and the biomarkers N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-senstivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) to detect subclinical atherosclerosis in RA patients.

Assessment of global right ventricular function on 64-MDCT compared with MRI.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare ECG-gated 64-MDCT with MRI for the assessment of global right ventricular (RV) function from coronary CT angiography data.

Subjects And Methods: Thirty-eight patients (25 men, 13 women; mean age +/- SD, 55.0 +/- 8.

Vessel density ratio: A novel approach to identify "culprit" coronary lesion by spiral computed tomography.

Background And Objective: We hypothesized that a "culprit" lesion in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) should have low overall vessel lumen and plaque density on multidetector computed tomography-assisted coronary angiography (MDCTA) because of lower calcification and the presence of occlusive thrombus. However, thrombi and calcification both can themselves blur the demarcation between vessel wall and lumen. If we calculated a "vessel density ratio" (VDR) obtained by measuring the mean density of contrast-enhancement within a region of interest (ROI), which includes the vessel wall, lumen, plaque, and thrombus, and comparing that with the aortic root mean density acting as a reference point, this ratio may be more convenient, standardized, and reproducible to test the feasibility of VDR in identifying "culprit" lesions in ACS.

Accuracy of 64-row multidetector computed tomography in detecting coronary artery disease in 134 symptomatic patients: influence of calcification.

Background: The new 64-row multidetector computed tomography (CT)-assisted angiography can now detect coronary artery disease with shorter breath-hold time and at faster heart rates for symptomatic patients. We aim to determine if the 64-row scanner can also overcome limitations due to mild to moderate calcification.

Methods: Scheduled for conventional coronary angiography, 134 symptomatic patients underwent multidetector CT-assisted angiography within 3 months.