Scanning for Blood Clots to Find the Cause of a Heart Attack
Tests a heart scan for clots in people after a heart attack.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Non-invasive Coronary Thrombus Imaging to Define These Cause of Acute Myocardial Infarction
Key facts
- Where
- Edinburgh, United KingdomSee the site
Where in United Kingdom
- Royal Infirmary of EdinburghEdinburgh, United KingdomTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University of Edinburgh
- Trial code
- NCT06113510
- Record updated
- 14 September 2026
- Original description
We now have very sensitive blood tests that can pick up damage to the heart and find patients who have had a heart attack. However, whilst this is welcome, it does not identify what causes the heart attack and can sometimes pick up other conditions that cause a strain on the heart.Read full original descriptionShow less
Non-invasive Coronary Thrombus Imaging to Define the Cause of Acute Myocardial Infarction
We now have very sensitive blood tests that can pick up damage to the heart and find patients who have had a heart attack. However, whilst this is welcome, it does not identify what causes the heart attack and can sometimes pick up other conditions that cause a strain on the heart.
The classic cause of a heart attack is when a blood clot forms on fatty deposits within the heart arteries. This leads to treating patients with blood thinning medication, and this is very effective and saves lives. However, many apparent heart attacks are not caused by blood clots and some may be caused by blood clots but pass unrecognised.
In this proposal, we will test an exciting new imaging test that can 'see' from outside the body whether there is a blood clot in the heart arteries. This could provide a major new way of assessing patients to ensure they get the right diagnosis and the right treatment. This could ultimately improve the outcomes of or patients with heart attacks.
We will recruit 80 patients in total who have recently been diagnosed with a heart attack from the cardiology department at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The research team will review patient's medical records to determine eligibility for the study.
The research study involves participants undertaking the following research procedures and assessments:
1. A combined Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography (PET-CT) scan of the heart 2. Ultrasound scan of the heart (Echocardiogram) 3. MRI scan of the heart 4. A blood test - a total of up to four tablespoons (60 mL) of blood will be taken for immediate testing and the remaining blood will be stored for future ethically approved studies 5. A follow up questionnaire 6 -12 months following the heart attack
Inclusion: Males and females ≥ 18 years of age; Clinical presentation of chest pain, ST-segment deviation within a coronary artery territory on the electrocardiogram, raised cardiac troponin and non-obstructive coronary arteries on invasive coronary angiography as per international societal diagnostic criteria.
Exclusion: Renal failure (estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73 m2); Known allergy or contraindication to iodinated contrast or radiotracer; <18 years of age; Takatsubo cardiomyopathy; Myocarditis; Woman of child-bearing potential who are pregnant or breastfeeding; Patients unable to tolerate the supine position; Patients unable to provide informed consent.