The contribution of arterial ultrasound scanning to atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk stratification: Short review

In recent times, it has been recognized that atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk stratification using algorithms such as Framingham risk score, prospective cardiovascular Munster, QRISK2 or SCORE2/SCORE2-OP which are based on conventional risk factors could be improved by ultrasound...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Andrew N Nicolaides, Maura B Griffin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2023-01-01
Series:Vascular Investigation and Therapy
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.vitonline.org/article.asp?issn=2589-9686;year=2023;volume=6;issue=2;spage=25;epage=29;aulast=Nicolaides
_version_ 1797773637334335488
author Andrew N Nicolaides
Maura B Griffin
author_facet Andrew N Nicolaides
Maura B Griffin
author_sort Andrew N Nicolaides
collection DOAJ
description In recent times, it has been recognized that atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk stratification using algorithms such as Framingham risk score, prospective cardiovascular Munster, QRISK2 or SCORE2/SCORE2-OP which are based on conventional risk factors could be improved by ultrasound arterial scanning. In the past, much emphasis was placed on intima-media thickness (IMT), but two recent meta-analyses have demonstrated that IMT provides only a marginal improvement on risk factors. In contrast to IMT, the presence, thickness, area or volume of plaques at the carotid and/or common femoral bifurcations are the stronger independent predictors of future ASCVD events than conventional risk factors alone. A recent study has shown that the number of bifurcations with plaque, total plaque thickness (sum of thickness of larger plaque in each bifurcation), and total plaque area (sum of areas of all plaques present in four bifurcations) have a similar net reclassification improvement of 16.1%–16.7%. In addition to this, previous studies demonstrated that common femoral bifurcation plaques are the stronger predictors of risk than carotid plaques. Thus, as far as screening is concerned, it appears that the number of bifurcations with plaque would be sufficient. However, for clinical monitoring of the effect of therapy on plaque progression or regression, measurements of plaque area or volume are the most appropriate. The commercial availability of three-dimensional-probes for superficial vessels will now make measurements of plaque volume relatively easy and the ability to monitor plaque volume changes in a clinical setting possible.
first_indexed 2024-03-12T22:09:22Z
format Article
id doaj.art-be0f15b9cd464730a7ab17c2b45321c8
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2589-9686
2589-9481
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-12T22:09:22Z
publishDate 2023-01-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
record_format Article
series Vascular Investigation and Therapy
spelling doaj.art-be0f15b9cd464730a7ab17c2b45321c82023-07-23T16:18:26ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsVascular Investigation and Therapy2589-96862589-94812023-01-0162252910.4103/2589-9686.379842The contribution of arterial ultrasound scanning to atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk stratification: Short reviewAndrew N NicolaidesMaura B GriffinIn recent times, it has been recognized that atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk stratification using algorithms such as Framingham risk score, prospective cardiovascular Munster, QRISK2 or SCORE2/SCORE2-OP which are based on conventional risk factors could be improved by ultrasound arterial scanning. In the past, much emphasis was placed on intima-media thickness (IMT), but two recent meta-analyses have demonstrated that IMT provides only a marginal improvement on risk factors. In contrast to IMT, the presence, thickness, area or volume of plaques at the carotid and/or common femoral bifurcations are the stronger independent predictors of future ASCVD events than conventional risk factors alone. A recent study has shown that the number of bifurcations with plaque, total plaque thickness (sum of thickness of larger plaque in each bifurcation), and total plaque area (sum of areas of all plaques present in four bifurcations) have a similar net reclassification improvement of 16.1%–16.7%. In addition to this, previous studies demonstrated that common femoral bifurcation plaques are the stronger predictors of risk than carotid plaques. Thus, as far as screening is concerned, it appears that the number of bifurcations with plaque would be sufficient. However, for clinical monitoring of the effect of therapy on plaque progression or regression, measurements of plaque area or volume are the most appropriate. The commercial availability of three-dimensional-probes for superficial vessels will now make measurements of plaque volume relatively easy and the ability to monitor plaque volume changes in a clinical setting possible.http://www.vitonline.org/article.asp?issn=2589-9686;year=2023;volume=6;issue=2;spage=25;epage=29;aulast=Nicolaidesatherosclerotic plaquesrisk stratificationultrasound imaging
spellingShingle Andrew N Nicolaides
Maura B Griffin
The contribution of arterial ultrasound scanning to atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk stratification: Short review
Vascular Investigation and Therapy
atherosclerotic plaques
risk stratification
ultrasound imaging
title The contribution of arterial ultrasound scanning to atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk stratification: Short review
title_full The contribution of arterial ultrasound scanning to atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk stratification: Short review
title_fullStr The contribution of arterial ultrasound scanning to atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk stratification: Short review
title_full_unstemmed The contribution of arterial ultrasound scanning to atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk stratification: Short review
title_short The contribution of arterial ultrasound scanning to atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk stratification: Short review
title_sort contribution of arterial ultrasound scanning to atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk stratification short review
topic atherosclerotic plaques
risk stratification
ultrasound imaging
url http://www.vitonline.org/article.asp?issn=2589-9686;year=2023;volume=6;issue=2;spage=25;epage=29;aulast=Nicolaides
work_keys_str_mv AT andrewnnicolaides thecontributionofarterialultrasoundscanningtoatheroscleroticcardiovascularriskstratificationshortreview
AT maurabgriffin thecontributionofarterialultrasoundscanningtoatheroscleroticcardiovascularriskstratificationshortreview
AT andrewnnicolaides contributionofarterialultrasoundscanningtoatheroscleroticcardiovascularriskstratificationshortreview
AT maurabgriffin contributionofarterialultrasoundscanningtoatheroscleroticcardiovascularriskstratificationshortreview