title: [Vascular function tests and new technology in the early phase of atherosclerosis].
abstract: The present topic of vascular function concerns how we detect the earliest arteriosclerotic changes. If we could diagnose the early phase of atherosclerosis, we would be able to intervene to prevent cardiovascular events caused by atherosclerosis. Recently, it became possible to examine vascular function non-invasively by pulse wave velocity (PWV), the augmentation index (AI) and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery induced by reactive hyperemia. Carotid ultrasonography is used to observe the morphological change and arterial stiffness of the carotid artery. This review focuses on the relation between arterial function tests and diseases, the method for measuring vascular function, and new technology for arterial stiffness.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke 329-0498, Japan. y-ogata@jichi.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yukiyo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*