Monitoring the effectiveness of preventive interventions using progression of coronary calcification with electron beam tomography

Abstract

Angiographic studies have demonstrated that progression of coronary artery disease can be slowed and in some cases regression obtained with appropriate medical therapies. However, coronary angiography is invasive and expensive. Detection of coronary artery calcification, a marker of atherosclerotic disease, with electron beam tomography imaging is achieved non-invasively and at a much lower cost. Therefore, this technology provides an opportunity to serially monitor the clinical effectiveness of medical therapy for coronary artery disease and could be useful for development of new therapies for atherosclerosis.