UZ Leuven

In the Cardiovascular Research Unit investigator initiated clinical pharmacological research is performed with special emphasis on the use of cardiovascular techniques.

Amongst others, high-resolution ultrasound equipment, venous occlusion plethysmography, pulse wave analyses and Laser Doppler Perfusion Imaging are used to assess arterial, arteriolar and venous effects of drugs affecting the cardiovascular system of humans in vivo. In combination, these techniques allow us to investigate distinct vascular territories simultaneously and to determine the influence of vasoactive compounds after systemic or local administration.

As these techniques go beyond the standard recording of blood pressure, heart rate and 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG), they offer a much more in depth assessment of the cardiovascular function in vivo in humans. Consequently, compounds developed with the intent to affect the cardiovascular system (efficacy assessment) as well as compounds which are supposed to be devoid of cardiovascular effects (safety assessment) can be investigated in healthy volunteers or selected groups of patients.

For a better impression about our experience with these techniques we refer to our list of publications.

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