AI coronary inflammation profiling · London
CaRi-Heart analysis, AI-powered coronary inflammation profiling from a routine CT coronary angiogram.
CaRi-Heart (Caristo Diagnostics) is an AI platform that measures perivascular fat attenuation index (FAI) around each coronary artery from a routine CT coronary angiogram — quantifying vascular inflammation and personalising heart-attack risk.
Why patients choose us
- 01
The right hands
We route you to a consultant cardiologist experienced in CaRi-Heart interpretation — with the CT coronary angiogram read by a consultant cardiac radiologist.
- 02
Fast, personalised risk
Perivascular FAI is computed from your existing CTCA and returned with a personalised 8-year risk pathway.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Key facts
CaRi-Heart in six lines.
The essentials — what CaRi-Heart measures, how it fits into a routine CTCA, and why it changes management for intermediate-risk patients.
- 01
AI-derived perivascular FAI
CaRi-Heart measures the perivascular fat-attenuation index (FAI) around each coronary artery from a routine CT coronary angiogram.
- 02
Detects inflammation before plaque
Vascular inflammation is quantified before atherosclerotic plaque is visible on standard imaging.
- 03
No additional scan needed
Analysis is performed on your existing CTCA dataset — no extra radiation, contrast or clinic visit.
- 04
Long-term outcome evidence
Backed by outcome data from the Oxford-led ORFAN registry and prospective cohorts.
- 05
CE-marked device
CaRi-Heart is a CE-marked medical device developed by Caristo Diagnostics.
- 06
Reclassifies intermediate risk
Moves intermediate-risk patients into personalised, evidence-led treatment pathways.
The problem
Standard risk scores miss the inflamed coronary tree.
Conventional risk calculators and a calcium score describe what has already happened. CaRi-Heart profiles the coronary inflammatory environment — which is where much of the earliest disease sits, and where intervention still changes the trajectory.
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Family history of premature CAD?
CaRi-Heart adds a personalised inflammation-based risk read on top of your family history.
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Intermediate 10-year risk?
CaRi-Heart reclassifies many intermediate-risk patients up or down, sharpening treatment decisions.
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Already on treatment?
Serial CaRi-Heart can show whether your medical therapy is meaningfully reducing coronary inflammation.
How it works
From CTCA to personalised risk — what happens, in order.
Seven concrete steps: from the CT coronary angiogram itself through Caristo cloud analysis to the written report and follow-up plan.
Phase 1 · Before analysis
CTCA acquired and uploaded
Phase 2 · AI processing
Caristo cloud analysis
Phase 3 · Clinical output
Consultant review, report, follow-up
- 01
Before
CT coronary angiogram acquired
A standard ECG-gated CT coronary angiogram is performed at a partner cardiac imaging centre.
- 02
Before
Scan uploaded to Caristo cloud
The DICOM dataset is transferred securely to the Caristo cloud analysis platform.
- 03
AI processing
AI segmentation of vessels and perivascular fat
The AI segments the coronary vessels and the fat surrounding each artery, ready for FAI computation.
- 04
AI processing
FAI computed per vessel and vessel-summary
A perivascular FAI value is produced for the LAD, LCX and RCA, together with a whole-tree summary.
- 05
After
Consultant cardiology review
A consultant cardiologist reviews the CaRi-Heart output alongside your CTCA and clinical picture.
- 06
After
Written report with personalised risk pathway
You receive a written report including your CaRi-Heart risk score and a personalised management plan.
- 07
After
Follow-up plan
A follow-up plan is agreed — medical therapy, lifestyle, and, where indicated, repeat imaging to track response.
Typical end-to-end: 1–2 weeks from CTCA to CaRi-Heart report.
What it shows
What a CaRi-Heart report actually contains.
CaRi-Heart answers a specific question — how inflamed is the coronary tree, and what does that mean for your personal 8-year risk. These are the outputs your report will describe.
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Perivascular FAI score (per LAD, LCX, RCA)
A dedicated FAI value for each of the three main coronary arteries.
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Overall CaRi-Heart risk score
A single, integrated CaRi-Heart risk score summarising coronary inflammation.
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Personalised 8-year MACE risk
An individualised 8-year risk estimate for major adverse cardiovascular events.
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Reclassification of intermediate-risk patients
Refines conventional risk scores by moving intermediate-risk patients up or down.
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Response to anti-inflammatory / statin therapy
Serial FAI can indicate biological response to intensified medical therapy.
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Comparison to age/sex-matched reference
Your values are set against an age- and sex-matched reference population.
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Trajectory on repeat imaging
Repeat CaRi-Heart shows whether coronary inflammation is improving, stable or progressing.
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Red flag: very high FAI + coronary plaque — intensive medical therapy and cardiology follow-up.
A very high FAI together with plaque warrants intensified medical therapy and structured cardiology follow-up.
Next steps
What a high CaRi-Heart score usually leads to.
The management options a consultant cardiologist will consider when your CaRi-Heart or plaque burden is elevated.
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Intensified statin therapy
High-intensity statin therapy titrated to LDL and inflammation targets.
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Ezetimibe / PCSK9 inhibitor
Add-on lipid-lowering therapy for patients not at target on statins alone.
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Anti-inflammatory approaches (colchicine trials)
Low-dose colchicine and other anti-inflammatory options, where evidence and eligibility support use.
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Cardiovascular risk-factor optimisation
Blood pressure, diabetes, weight, sleep and smoking — the fundamentals, done properly.
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Structured cardiac rehabilitation
Supervised exercise, education and behavioural support delivered as a programme.
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Anti-platelet therapy
Aspirin or alternative antiplatelet therapy where indicated by plaque burden and risk.
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Repeat CaRi-Heart to monitor response
Serial CaRi-Heart to confirm that inflammation is reducing on treatment.
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Cardiology follow-up
Ongoing consultant cardiology review to keep the plan honest and current.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of clinics, we picked them.
Cardiac imaging centres running a Caristo-approved CaRi-Heart workflow, with consultant cardiology review as standard.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinic in our network.
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Consultant cardiac radiologists reporting the underlying CT coronary angiogram
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Caristo-approved workflow for CaRi-Heart analysis
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Consultant cardiologist review of every CaRi-Heart report
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Onward cardiology follow-up if inflammation or plaque is significant
Red flags
When CaRi-Heart findings need urgent cardiology input.
Patterns and combinations of findings that meaningfully raise risk and change the pace and intensity of management.
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Very high FAI + obstructive CAD
Very high perivascular FAI together with obstructive coronary artery disease demands urgent intensification.
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Left-main disease
Left-main coronary disease is a high-risk pattern requiring immediate cardiology input.
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Familial hypercholesterolaemia
Genetic hypercholesterolaemia dramatically raises lifetime risk and shifts treatment thresholds.
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Silent MI on CT
Evidence of prior silent myocardial infarction changes both prognosis and management.
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Rapid FAI progression
A rising FAI on serial imaging is a warning that inflammation is not controlled.
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Severe inflammation with acute chest pain
High inflammation in a patient with acute chest pain warrants urgent cardiology assessment.
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Poor response to intensive therapy
Persistent high FAI despite intensive medical therapy needs specialist review.
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Concurrent inflammatory disease
Systemic inflammatory conditions (e.g. RA, psoriasis, IBD) amplify coronary risk.
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Family history of premature CAD
A strong family history of premature coronary disease lowers the threshold for aggressive treatment.
Reading your report
A CaRi-Heart report can look intimidating. It isn’t.
Whatever the finding, the report keeps to the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
The report is written for your doctor, not for you — and that’s normal.
If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and cardiovascular risk factors
Your details, the reason for CaRi-Heart, and the risk factors that shape interpretation.
- 02 Technique
CTCA acquisition and CaRi-Heart processing
The CT protocol used and confirmation that the dataset met Caristo processing standards.
- 03 Findings
FAI per vessel, plaque burden, CaRi-Heart score
Vessel-by-vessel FAI, description of plaque, and the integrated CaRi-Heart risk score.
- 04 Impression
The conclusion: read this first
Personalised 8-year risk, reclassification versus standard scores, and the concrete next step.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover depends on your policy and clinic; we confirm with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about CaRi-Heart.
Short answers on what CaRi-Heart measures, how it fits with a CTCA and calcium score, the outcome evidence, and what happens after a high score.
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What is CaRi-Heart analysis?
CaRi-Heart is an AI platform from Caristo Diagnostics that measures the perivascular fat-attenuation index (FAI) around each coronary artery from a routine CT coronary angiogram. It quantifies vascular inflammation and produces a personalised heart-attack risk estimate.
-
Do I need an extra scan for CaRi-Heart?
No — CaRi-Heart is computed from your existing CT coronary angiogram. There is no additional radiation, contrast or clinic visit beyond the CTCA itself.
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What does the perivascular FAI actually measure?
FAI measures changes in the fat immediately surrounding each coronary artery. Coronary inflammation alters the composition of this fat, and FAI captures that signal — often before plaque is visible on standard imaging.
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How is CaRi-Heart different from a coronary calcium score?
A calcium score measures calcified plaque that has already formed. CaRi-Heart measures the inflammatory environment around the vessel wall — it can flag risk before plaque appears and refines risk in patients whose calcium score alone is inconclusive.
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Is CaRi-Heart backed by outcome data?
Yes. CaRi-Heart is CE-marked and supported by long-term outcome data, including the Oxford-led ORFAN registry and prospective cohort studies linking perivascular FAI to major adverse cardiovascular events.
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What happens after a high CaRi-Heart score?
A consultant cardiologist reviews the report with you and agrees a personalised plan — this typically includes intensified statin or add-on lipid-lowering therapy, cardiovascular risk-factor optimisation, and structured follow-up, sometimes with repeat CaRi-Heart to confirm response.
Sources
What this guide is based on.
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Caristo Diagnostics — CaRi-Heart platform.
Caristo Diagnostics — CaRi-Heart platform. -
Oxford ORFAN registry publications.
Oxford ORFAN registry publications. -
NICE. Cardiovascular disease: risk assessment and reduction (NG238).
NICE. Cardiovascular disease: risk assessment and reduction (NG238). -
European Society of Cardiology — clinical practice guidelines.
European Society of Cardiology — clinical practice guidelines.
Last reviewed 2026-07-30 · Next review 2027-07-30 · 6-minute read
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In practice, in London
Getting cari heart analysis sorted in London, without the guesswork
With cari heart analysis, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it — not whether the scan is available. The NHS route for cari heart analysis is thorough, but the queue is real. Most patients we speak with have been told to expect anywhere from a handful of weeks to several months, depending on their local trust and how the referral is graded. Going private in London usually collapses that window to a matter of days — often the same week if the diary allows. It isn’t about jumping a queue so much as buying time back while you still have the flexibility to plan around it.
Once you’re in the private system for cari heart analysis, the pace picks up noticeably. Consultant slots run to time, imaging is usually available in the same building or a short walk away, and the report comes back typed and detailed. It’s the coordination that tends to feel different — one person on the other end of the phone, not a switchboard. For cari heart analysis specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.
Where a good concierge earns its keep is in the matching. There are dozens of consultants in London who see cari heart analysis — but not all of them are the right fit for every case. We narrow it down based on subspecialty, insurer coverage, the specific question being asked, and whether continuity into treatment matters. The right first appointment saves you from repeating yourself later.
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