Preface. Part One: Endothelial Function. 1. Endothelium control of vascular tone and growth: potential role in coronary artery disease; T.F. Lüscher. 2. Endothelial function in atherosclerosis; F. Charbonneau, I.T. Meredith, T.J. Anderson, M. Gerhard, M. Dyce, D. Delagrange, A.P. Selwyn, P. Ganz. Part Two: QCA: Digital and Cine Coronary Arteriography. 3. Why and how should QCA systems be validated? J.H.C. Reiber, G. Koning, C.D. von Land, P.M.J. van der Zwet. 4. Percutaneous implantation of coronary stenosis phantoms in an anesthetized swine model to validate current quantitative angiography analysis systems; J. Haase, D. Keane, C. Di Mario, J. Escaned, Y. Ozaki, C.J. Slager, R. van Bremen, W.J. van der Giessen, P.W. Serruys. 5. Comparison of accuracy and precision of quantitative coronary arterial analysis between cinefilm and digital systems; J.H.C. Reiber, C.D. von Land, G. Koning, P.M.J. van der Zwet, R.C.M. van Houdt, M.J. Schalij, J. Lespérance. 6. Angiographic core laboratory analyses of arterial phantom images: comparative evaluations of accuracy and precision; G.J. Beauman, J.H.C. Reiber, G. Koning, R.C.M. van Houdt, R.A. Vogel. 7. Task force of the ESC on digital cardiovascular imaging; R. Simon. 8. Which media are most likely to solve the archival problem? J.T. Cusma, T.M. Bashore. Part Three: Intracoronary Pressure, Coronary Blood Flow and Flow Reserve. 9. Control and mechanics of the coronary circulation; J.A.E. Spaan. 10. Possibilities and limitations of myocardial flow reserve; F. Zijlstra, P. Widimsky, H. Suryapranata.11. Myocardial flow reserve: on-line versus off-line assessment techniques; M.M.J.M. van der Linden, J. Haase, P.W. Serruys. 12. On-line assessment of myocardial flow reserve; M.J. Schalij, M.J.A. Geldof, P.M.J. van der Zwet, E.T. van der Velde, E.M. Nagtegaal, V. Manger Cats, J.H.C. Reiber, A.V.G. Bruschke. 13. Relationship between transstenotic pressure gradients and coronary angiographic parameters; H. Emanuelsson, C. Lamm, M. Dohnal. 14. Intracoronary pressure measurements for calculation of flow reserve; N.H.J. Pijls, B. De Bruyne, S. El Biltagui, M. El Gamal, H.J.R.M. Bonnier, G.R. Heyndrickx, K.L. Gould, R. Kirkeeide, G.J.W. Bech, J.J. Koolen, H.R. Michels, F.A.L.E. Bracke, W. Wijns. 15. Intracoronary Doppler flow velocity in coronary interventions; M.J. Kern. 16. The instantaneous hyperemic pressure--flow relationship in conscious humans; C. Di Mario, R. Krams, R. Gil, N. Meneveau, P.W. Serruys. 17. Progress towards improved measurements of coronary vascular dynamics in clinical practice: a comparative summary of new approaches based on measurements during maximal hyperemia; G.B.J. Mancini. Part Four: QCA in Progression/Regression of Atherosclerotic Disease. 18. Towards complete assessment of progression/regression of coronary atherosclerosis: implications for intervention trials; P.J. de Feyter, C. Di Mario, C.J. Slager, P.W. Serruys, J.R.T.C. Roelandt. 19. Are qualitative features of coronary artery lesions useful in predicting progression? J. Lespérance, G. Hudon, P. Théroux, D. Waters. Part Five: QCA in Recanalization Techniques. 20. Laser o

This is the fifth volume in this series on quantitative coronary arteriography (QCA) published over the last nine years. Research and applications in this exciting, field are covered in a total of 26 chapters by world renowned experts. This book is subdivided into a total of 6 parts, each emphasizing the latest progress in these respective fields. In Part One a comprehensive overview is given of the current knowledge and research in endothelial function, which is of eminent importance for the further understanding of the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease in patients. Fortunately, the use of QCA tools is not limited anymore to leading research institutes; over the last several years these tools have been installed in many cardiology centers world wide. To understand the current possibili­ ties, limitations and future expectations of QCA, several relevant topics are presented in Part Two. First of all, the questions about why and how QCA systems should be validated both at the development site and at the appli­ cation sites, and whether data from different vendors and core laboratories can be pooled, are discussed. As the X-ray cardiovascular world steadily moves into the digital imaging era, differences and similarities between the conventional cinefilm and the modern digital approaches are presented. Cur­ rently. the widespread use of digital imaging is still hindered by the lack of proper archival and exchange media. Requirements and possible solutions for this problem are handled in this section as well.