Determining "Vascular Age": Siemens Introduces A New Ultrasound Application For Evaluating The Risk Of Heart Disease

Siemens Medical Solutions expanded its portfolio of ultrasound applications: the syngo Arterial Health Package (AHP) calculates cardiovascular risks by measuring the carotid intima media thickness and determining the so-called vascular age - the relative age of the vessel. Together with other factors, such as cholesterol values and blood pressure, the physician can use the results of syngo AHP to better assess a patient's myocardial or stroke-related risk and establish an individual prevention and treatment plan. At the ESC 2007, the Congress of the European Society of Cardiology in Vienna from September 1 to 5, 2007, Siemens Medical Solutions will introduce syngo AHP for the first time in Europe.

The syngo Arterial Health Package (AHP) determines the vascular age, that is, the advance of atherosclerotic burden and displays it to the patient. Knowing the vascular age supports the physician in more accurately determining the personal risk of a patient to develop coronary heart disease, in rendering a prognosis, and in developing a prevention and therapy plan. The new ultrasound application provides a measurement of the intima media thickness of the carotid - the innermost layer of the carotid vessel wall. An abnormal widening of the intima media is considered evidence of threatening or already existing arteriosclerosis.

source article from Medical News Today