CAD at the Intersection of Cardiology and Rheumatology: Focus on Cardiovascular Imaging

Kenneth Wade Williams; Helene DiGregorio; Deepak Jagannath; Attila Feher

doi:10.14797/mdcvj.1646

CAD at the Intersection of Cardiology and Rheumatology: Focus on Cardiovascular Imaging

Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal

Volume 21 (2025): Issue 4

By: Kenneth Wade Williams, Helene DiGregorio , Deepak Jagannath and Attila Feher

Open Access

|Oct 2025

Abstract

Patients with autoimmune rheumatologic diseases (ARDs) exhibit an elevated risk for atherosclerosis, not fully accounted for by traditional risk factors alone. This review aims to explore how advanced multimodality cardiovascular imaging techniques can provide critical insights into the shared inflammatory pathways that contribute to endothelial damage and the development of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. By highlighting the diagnostic potential and future applications of these techniques, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview for clinicians and researchers.

References

Mortensen MB, Jensen JM, Rønnow Sand NP, et al. Association of Autoimmune Diseases With Coronary Atherosclerosis Severity and Ischemic Events. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2024 Jun 25;83(25):2643-2654. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2024.04.030
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
DiGregorio H, Avenatti E, Gullapelli R, et al. Burden of Atherosclerotic Disease Risk Factors in Patients With and Without Rheumatologic Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Am J Cardiol. 2024 Nov 1:230:37-40. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2024.08.017
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Jebari-Benslaiman S, Galicia-García U, Larrea-Sebal A, et al. Pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Mar 20;23(6):3346. doi: 10.3390/ijms23063346
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Bottardi A, Prado GFA, Lunardi M, et al. Clinical updates in coronary artery disease: A comprehensive review. J Clin Med. 2024 Aug 6;13(16):4600. doi: 10.3390/jcm13164600
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Abohelwa M, Kopel J, Shurmur S, Ansari MM, Awasthi Y, Awasthi S. The Framingham Study on Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Stress-Defenses: A Historical Review. J Vasc Dis. 2023 Feb 13;2(1):164. doi: 10.3390/jvd2010010
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Avina-Zubieta JA, Thomas J, Sadatsafavi M, Lehman AJ, Lacaille D. Risk of incident cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A meta-analysis of observational studies. Ann Rheum Dis. 2012 Sep;71(9):1524-9
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Conrad N, Verbeke G, Molenberghs G, et al. Autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular risk: a population-based study on 19 autoimmune diseases and 12 cardiovascular diseases in 22 million individuals in the UK. Lancet. 2022 Sep 3;400(10354):733-743. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01349-6
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Steyers CM 3rd, Miller FJ Jr. Endothelial dysfunction in chronic inflammatory diseases. Int J Mol Sci. 2014 Jun 25;15(7):11324-49. doi: 10.3390/ijms150711324
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ridker PM, Everett BM, Thuren T, et al; CANTOS Trial Group. Antiinflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease. N Engl J Med. 2017 Sep 21;377(12):1119-1131. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1707914
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Nidorf SM, Eikelboom JW, Budgeon CA, Thompson PL. Low-dose colchicine for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013 Jan 29;61(4):404-410. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2012.10.027
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Nidorf SM, Fiolet ATL, Mosterd A, et al. LoDoCo2 Trial Investigators. Colchicine in patients with chronic coronary disease. N Engl J Med. 2020 Nov 5;383(19):1838-1847. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2021372
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Tardif J, Kouz S, Waters DD, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Low-Dose Colchicine after Myocardial Infarction. N Engl J Med. 2019 Dec 26;381(26):2497-2505. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1912388
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Taqueti VR, Everett BM, Murthy VL, et al. Interaction of impaired coronary flow reserve and cardiomyocyte injury on adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients without overt coronary artery disease. Circulation. 2015 Feb 10;131(6):528-35. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.114.009716
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Cecere A, Perazzolo Marra M, et al. Coronary microvascular dysfunction in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: Beyond coronary flow velocity reserve. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2024 Aug 21:11:1372703. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1372703
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Turiel M, Atzeni F, Tomasoni L, et al. Non-invasive assessment of coronary flow reserve and ADMA levels: a case-control study of early rheumatoid arthritis patients. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2009 Jul;48(7):834-9. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kep082
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hirata K, Kadirvelu A, Kinjo M, et al. Altered coronary vasomotor function in young patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum. 2007 Jun;56(6):1904-9. doi: 10.1002/art.22702
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Mavrogeni SI, Markousis-Mavrogenis G, Karapanagiotou O, et al. Silent myocardial perfusion abnormalities detected by stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance in antiphospholipid syndrome: A case-control study. J Clin Med. 2019 Jul 23;8(7):1084. doi: 10.3390/jcm8071084
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Wilkinson MJ, Shapiro MD. Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular risk: A complex interplay. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2024 Dec;44(12):2396-2406. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.124.319983
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Lu Y, Cui X, Zhang L, et al. The Functional Role of Lipoproteins in Atherosclerosis: Novel Directions for Diagnosis and Targeting Therapy. Aging Dis. 2022 Apr 1;13(2):491-520. doi: 10.14336/AD.2021.0929
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Venetsanopoulou AI, Pelechas E, Voulgari PV, Drosos AA. The lipid paradox in rheumatoid arthritis: The dark horse of the augmented cardiovascular risk. Rheumatol Int. 2020 Aug;40(8):1181-1191. doi: 10.1007/s00296-020-04616-2
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Avenatti E, DiGregorio H, Hajj EE, et al. Disparities in statin use in patients with ASCVD with vs without rheumatologic diseases in a large integrated healthcare system: Houston methodist CVD learning health system registry. Am J Prev Cardiol. 2025 Mar 28:22:100959. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpc.2025.100959
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Weber BN, Paik JJ, Aghayev A, et al. Novel Imaging Approaches to Cardiac Manifestations of Systemic Inflammatory Diseases: JACC Scientific Statement. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2023 Nov 28;82(22):2128-2151. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2023.09.819
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Mavrogeni S, Pepe A, Nijveldt R, et al. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: a clinical consensus document by the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2022 Aug 22;23(9):e308-e322. doi: 10.1093/ehjci/jeac134
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Saghir MK, Attenhofer Jost C, Warrington KJ, Cha SS, Pellikka PA. Exercise echocardiography in rheumatoid arthritis: A case-control study. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2009 Nov;22(11):1228-31. doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2009.07.018
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Toutouzas K, Sfikakis PP, Karanasos A, et al. Myocardial ischaemia without obstructive coronary artery disease in rheumatoid arthritis: hypothesis-generating insights from a cross-sectional study. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2013 Jan;52(1):76-80. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kes349
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hozumi T, Yoshida K, Akasaka T, et al. Noninvasive assessment of coronary flow velocity and coronary flow velocity reserve in the left anterior descending coronary artery by doppler echocardiography: Comparison with invasive technique. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1998 Nov;32(5):1251-9. doi: 10.1016/s0735-1097(98)00389-1
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Jukema RA, Dahdal J, Kooijman EM, et al. Diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive cardiac imaging modalities in patients with a history of coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis. Heart. 2024 Dec 13;111(1):4-10. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2024-324248
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Erre GL, Buscetta G, Paliogiannis P, et al. Coronary flow reserve in systemic rheumatic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatol Int. 2018 Jul;38(7):1179-1190. doi: 10.1007/s00296-018-4039-8
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Yılmaz S, Caliskan M, Kulaksızoglu S, et al. Association between serum total antioxidant status and coronary microvascular functions in patients with SLE. Echocardiography. 2012 Nov;29(10):1218-23. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8175.2012.01797.x
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Caliskan M, Erdogan D, Gullu H, et al. Impaired coronary microvascular and left ventricular diastolic functions in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Atherosclerosis. 2008 Jan;196(1):306-312. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2006.11.003
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ikonomidis I, Makavos G, Papadavid E, et al. Similarities in coronary function and myocardial deformation between psoriasis and coronary artery disease: The role of oxidative stress and inflammation. Can J Cardiol. 2015 Mar;31(3):287-95. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2014.11.002
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Piaserico S, Papadavid E, Cecere A, et al. Coronary microvascular dysfunction in asymptomatic patients with severe psoriasis. J Invest Dermatol. 2023 Oct;143(10):1929-1936.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.02.037
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Sincer İ, Kurtoğlu E, Yılmaz Çoşkun F, et al. Association between serum total antioxidant status and flow-mediated dilation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: an observational study. Anatol J Cardiol. 2015 Nov;15(11):913-8. doi: 10.5152/akd.2015.5764
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ikonomidis I, Papadavid E, Makavos G, et al. Lowering Interleukin-12 Activity Improves Myocardial and Vascular Function Compared With Tumor Necrosis Factor-a Antagonism or Cyclosporine in Psoriasis. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. 2017 Sep;10(9):e006283. doi: 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.117.006283
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ikonomidis I, Tzortzis S, Andreadou I, et al. Increased benefit of interleukin-1 inhibition on vascular function, myocardial deformation, and twisting in patients with coronary artery disease and coexisting rheumatoid arthritis. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. 2014 Jul;7(4):619-28. doi: 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.113.001193
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Mitchell JD, Paisley R, Moon P, Novak E, Villines TC. Coronary artery calcium and long-term risk of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke: The walter reed cohort study. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2018 Dec;11(12):1799-1806. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2017.09.003
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Martínez-Ceballos MA, Sinning Rey JC, Alzate-Granados JP, et al. Coronary calcium in autoimmune diseases: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Atherosclerosis. 2021 Oct:335:68-76. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2021.09.017
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Romero-Díaz J, Vargas-Vóracková F, Kimura-Hayama E, et al. Systemic lupus erythematosus risk factors for coronary artery calcifications. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2012 Jan;51(1):110-9. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/ker307
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Rho YH, Chung CP, Oeser A, et al. Inflammatory mediators and premature coronary atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Nov 15;61(11):1580-5. doi: 10.1002/art.25009
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Feher A, Pieszko K, Miller R, et al. Integration of coronary artery calcium scoring from CT attenuation scans by machine learning improves prediction of adverse cardiovascular events in patients undergoing SPECT/CT myocardial perfusion imaging. J Nucl Cardiol. 2023 Apr;30(2):590-603. doi: 10.1007/s12350-022-03099-x
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Feher A, Pieszko K, Shanbhag A, et al. Comparison of the prognostic value between quantification and visual estimation of coronary calcification from attenuation CT in patients undergoing SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2024 Jan;40(1):185-193. doi: 10.1007/s10554-023-02980-1
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Luo Y, Hanuska D, Xu J, Salvatore MM, Bernstein EJ. Quantification of coronary artery calcification in systemic sclerosis using visual ordinal and deep learning scoring: Association with systemic sclerosis clinical features. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2025 Feb:70:152598. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2024.152598
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hamon M, Biondi-Zoccai GGL, Malagutti P, et al. Diagnostic performance of multislice spiral computed tomography of coronary arteries as compared with conventional invasive coronary angiography: a meta-analysis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2006 Nov 7;48(9):1896-910. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2006.08.028
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Priester TC, Litwin SE. Measuring progression of coronary atherosclerosis with Computed tomography: Searching for clarity Among Shades of gray. J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr. 2009 Nov-Dec:3 Suppl 2:S81-90. doi: 10.1016/j.jcct.2009.10.011
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Thomsen C, Abdulla J. Characteristics of high-risk coronary plaques identified by computed tomographic angiography and associated prognosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2016 Feb;17(2):120-9. doi: 10.1093/ehjci/jev325
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Karpouzas GA, Malpeso J, Choi T, Li D, Munoz S, Budoff MJ. Prevalence, extent and composition of coronary plaque in patients with rheumatoid arthritis without symptoms or prior diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Ann Rheum Dis. 2014 Oct;73(10):1797-804. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-203617
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Stojan G, Li J, Budoff M, Arbab-Zadeh A, Petri MA. High-risk coronary plaque in SLE: Low-attenuation non-calcified coronary plaque and positive remodelling index. Lupus Sci Med. 2020 Jul;7(1):e000409. doi: 10.1136/lupus–;000409
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Rajiah P, Cummings KW, Williamson E, Young PM. CT Fractional Flow Reserve: A Practical Guide to Application, Interpretation, and Problem Solving. Radiographics. 2022 Mar-Apr;42(2):340-358. doi: 10.1148/rg.210097
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Shields KJ, Barinas-Mitchell E, Gingo MR, et al. Perivascular adipose tissue of the descending thoracic aorta is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus and vascular calcification in women. Atherosclerosis. 2013 Nov;231(1):129-35. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2013.09.004
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Shields KJ, El Khoudary SR, Ahearn JM, Manzi S. Association of aortic perivascular adipose tissue density with aortic calcification in women with systemic lupus erythematosus. Atherosclerosis. 2017 Jul:262:55-61. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2017.04.021
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Antonopoulos AS, Sanna F, Sabharwal N, et al. Detecting human coronary inflammation by imaging perivascular fat. Sci Transl Med. 2017 Jul 12;9(398):eaal2658. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aal2658
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Thornton E, Mendiratta-Lala M, Siewert B, Eisenberg RL. Patterns of fat stranding. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2011 Jul;197(1):W1-14. doi: 10.2214/AJR.10.4375
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Oikonomou EK, Marwan M, Desai MY, et al. Non-invasive detection of coronary inflammation using computed tomography and prediction of residual cardiovascular risk (the CRISP CT study): A post-hoc analysis of prospective outcome data. Lancet. 2018 Sep 15;392(10151):929-939. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31114-0
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Elnabawi YA, Oikonomou EK, Dey AK, et al. Association of biologic therapy with coronary inflammation in patients with psoriasis as assessed by perivascular fat attenuation index. JAMA Cardiol. 2019 Sep 1;4(9):885-891. doi: 10.1001/jamacardio.2019.2589
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kim RJ, Wu E, Rafael A, et al. The use of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging to identify reversible myocardial dysfunction. N Engl J Med. 2000 Nov 16;343(20):1445-53. doi: 10.1056/NEJM200011163432003
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Mavrogeni SI, Sfikakis PP, Koutsogeorgopoulou L, et al. Cardiac Tissue Characterization and Imaging in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2017 Nov;10(11):1387-1396. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2017.08.017
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Nagel E, Klein C, Paetsch I, et al. Magnetic resonance perfusion measurements for the noninvasive detection of coronary artery disease. Circulation. 2003 Jul 29;108(4):432-7. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000080915.35024.A9
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Greenwood JP, Maredia N, Younger JF, et al. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance and single-photon emission computed tomography for diagnosis of coronary heart disease (CE-MARC): a prospective trial. Lancet. 2012 Feb 4;379(9814):453-60. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61335-4
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kotecha T, Martinez-Naharro A, Boldrini M, et al. Automated Pixel-Wise Quantitative Myocardial Perfusion Mapping by CMR to Detect Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease and Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction: Validation Against Invasive Coronary Physiology. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2019 Oct;12(10):1958-1969. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2018.12.022
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kobayashi Y, Giles JT, Hirano M, et al. Assessment of myocardial abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis using a comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance approach: a pilot study. Arthritis Res Ther. 2010 Sep;12(5):R171. doi: 10.1186/ar3131
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Sacré K, Brihaye B, Hyafil F, et al. Asymptomatic myocardial ischemic disease in antiphospholipid syndrome: a controlled cardiac magnetic resonance imaging study. Arthritis Rheum. 2010 Jul;62(7):2093-100. doi: 10.1002/art.27488
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ishimori ML, Martin R, Berman DS, et al. Myocardial ischemia in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease in systemic lupus erythematosus. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2011 Jan;4(1):27-33. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2010.09.019
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Sandhu VK, Wei J, Thomson LEJ, et al. Five-Year Follow-Up of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction and Coronary Artery Disease in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Results From a Community-Based Lupus Cohort. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020 Jul;72(7):882-887. doi: 10.1002/acr.23920
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Dumitru RB, Bissell L, Erhayiem B, et al. Predictors of subclinical systemic sclerosis primary heart involvement characterised by microvasculopathy and myocardial fibrosis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 Jun 18;60(6):2934-2945. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa742
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Feher A, Sinusas AJ. Quantitative Assessment of Coronary Microvascular Function: Dynamic Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography, Positron Emission Tomography, Ultrasound, Computed Tomography, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. 2017 Aug;10(8):e006427. doi: 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.117.006427
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Weber, B, Weisenfeld, D, Massarotti, E, et al.Interplay Between Systemic Inflammation, Myocardial Injury, and Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results From the LiiRA Study. J Am Heart Assoc. 2024 May 7;13(9):e030387. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.123.030387
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Weber B, Weisenfeld D, Seyok T, et al. Relationship between risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and coronary microvascular dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis. J Am Heart Assoc. 2022 Jun 7;11(11):e025467. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.121.025467
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Amigues I, Russo C, Giles JT, et al. Myocardial microvascular dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis; Quantitation by 13N-ammonia positron emission tomography/computed tomography. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. 2019 Dec;12(1):e007495. doi: 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.117.007495
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Feher A, Boutagy NE, Oikonomou EK, et al. Impaired Myocardial Flow Reserve on ⁸²Rubidium Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis. J Rheumatol. 2021 Oct;48(10):1574-1582. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.210040
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Feher A, Boutagy NE, Oikonomou EK, et al. Association Between Impaired Myocardial Flow Reserve on 82Rubidium Positron Emission Tomography Imaging and Adverse Events in Patients With Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. 2021 Sep;14(9):e012208. doi: 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.120.012208
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Weber BN, Stevens E, Perez-Chada LM, et al. Impaired Coronary Vasodilator Reserve and Adverse Prognosis in Patients With Systemic Inflammatory Disorders. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2021 Nov;14(11):2212-2220. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2020.12.031
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Weber BN, Stevens E, Barrett L, et al. Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. J Am Heart Assoc. 2021 Jul 6;10(13):e018555. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.120.018555
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Weber B, Perez-Chada LM, Divakaran S, et al. Coronary microvascular dysfunction in patients with psoriasis. J Nucl Cardiol. 2022 Feb;29(1):37-42. doi: 10.1007/s12350-020-02166-5
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ogawa M, Nakamura S, Saito Y, Kosugi M, Magata Y. What can be seen by 18F-FDG PET in atherosclerosis imaging? The effect of foam cell formation on 18F-FDG uptake to macrophages in vitro. J Nucl Med. 2012 Jan;53(1):55-8. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.111.092866
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Figueroa AL, Abdelbaky A, Truong QA, et al. Measurement of arterial activity on routine FDG PET/CT images improves prediction of risk of future CV events. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2013 Dec;6(12):1250-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2013.08.006
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kubota K, Yamashita H, Mimori A. Clinical Value of FDG-PET/CT for the Evaluation of Rheumatic Diseases: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, and Relapsing Polychondritis. Semin Nucl Med. 2017 Jul;47(4):408-424. doi: 10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2017.02.005
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Boczar KE, Beanlands RS, Glassman SJ, et al. Anti-inflammatory effect of biologic therapy in patients with psoriatic disease: A prospective cohort FDG PET study. J Nucl Cardiol. 2023 Aug;30(4):1642-1652. doi: 10.1007/s12350-023-03204-8
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Mäki-Petäjä KM, Elkhawad M, Cheriyan J, et al. Anti-tumor necrosis factor-α therapy reduces aortic inflammation and stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Circulation. 2012 Nov 20;126(21):2473-80. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.112.120410
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Zureigat H, Civieri G, Abohashem S, et al. Improvement in joint inflammation is accompanied by reduction in arterial inflammation: Tocilizumab in rheumatoid arthritis. J Nucl Cardiol. 2024 Mar:33:101813. doi: 10.1016/j.nuclcard.2024.101813
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Maier A, Teunissen AJP, Nauta SA, Lutgens E, Fayad ZA, van Leent MMT. Uncovering atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease by PET imaging. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2024 Sep;21(9):632-651. doi: 10.1038/s41569-024-01009-x
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article

Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14797/mdcvj.1646 | Journal eISSN: 1947-6108

Journal RSS Feed

Language: English

Page range: 65 - 75

Submitted on: May 26, 2025

Accepted on: Jun 19, 2025

Published on: Oct 1, 2025

Published by: Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Keywords:

autoimmune rheumatologic diseases,

atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease,

coronary microvascular dysfunction,

lipid paradox

© 2025 Kenneth Wade Williams, Helene DiGregorio, Deepak Jagannath, Attila Feher, published by Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License.

Volume 21 (2025): Issue 4