Synopsis

Vascular function testing may provide insight in early subclinical disease state. Understanding blood flow characteristics near the wall is relevant when testing vascular function for diagnosing and predicting future risk of cardiovascular disease. Phase Contrast MRI assesses blood flow velocity and provides unprecedented hemodynamic insight when extended to 4D Flow MRI. Relevant markers of vascular function assessed by 4D Flow MRI are: vascular wall stiffness (Pulse Wave Velocity), hemodynamic force on the wall (Wall Shear Stress) and eccentricity in blood flow pattern (Flow displacement).