Non-invasive markers to investigate vascular damage in systemic disease

While the access and quality of cardiovascular health care continues to evolve, the Western world is confronted with new challenges in the 21th century. As result of an increased overall life-expectancy, the prevalence of chronic diseases is rising. Various chronic conditions, although effecting different organs and systems, appear to be complicated by an increased risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

In order to improve risk prediction and prevent CVD, its necessary to first improve our understanding of pathways involved in vascular injury and accelerated atherosclerosis. Vascular injury, as consequence of various known and unknown risk factors, precedes the occurrence of a clinical event and is a key step in its etiology.

In this thesis various vascular injury related markers, obtained by new imaging and non-imaging techniques, in high-risk patients groups are investigated and discussed. For example, we investigated whether microcalcification, assed with 18F-NaF PET, differs between culprit and non-culprit atherosclerotic plaques. Furthermore, we evaluated MRI assessed plaque thickness and morphology of the carotid artery persons with hemophilia in order to better understand the relation between cardiovascular disease and hypocoagulability.

New techniques and insights can help us to further improve the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in the future.