Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Heart Attack Research Program- Imaging Study

The HARP study is for people in the UK who have had a heart attack but don't have the usual major blockages in their heart arteries. This is sometimes called MINOCA. Researchers want to use special imaging, like advanced scans, to help figure out what caused the heart attack in each person. They will then follow participants for up to 10 years, checking in every six months, to see how they are doing and if they have any more heart-related issues. The aim is to get a better understanding of this type of heart attack and ultimately improve care for people in the future.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

NYU Langone Health

Enrolment target

450

Start

12 Sep 2016

Estimated completion

30 Jun 2027

Myocardial Infarction

What is this study about?

When people have a heart attack, it's usually because a major artery to the heart is blocked. However, some people have a heart attack but don't have these blockages. This is called a 'Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries', or MINOCA for short. Because the cause isn't obvious, it can be harder to know the best way to treat it. This new study, called HARP, is trying to change that.

The HARP study is like a detective story. Researchers are using very detailed heart scans, including something called Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) imaging. These scans can look very closely at the heart and its smaller blood vessels to help find out exactly what caused the heart attack in each person. It’s important to understand the cause so doctors can give the right treatment.

After these initial scans, the study team will keep in touch with participants for a long time – up to 10 years. They will check in every six months to see how you are feeling and if you have had any new heart problems. By gathering all this information from many people, researchers hope to learn more about MINOCA, find patterns, and ultimately help improve how doctors diagnose and treat this condition for everyone in the future.

Key takeaways

It's for people who've had a heart attack without major artery blockages.
Uses advanced heart scans to find the cause of the heart attack.
No new medicines are given as part of the study.
Long-term follow-up for up to 10 years.
Aims to improve understanding and future treatment for this type of heart attack.

Who may be eligible?

To join the HARP study, you need to be at least 21 years old and have recently experienced symptoms of a heart attack, such as chest pain. Your doctors would have also found other signs of a heart attack, like changes in your blood tests or heart traces (ECG).

A very important point is that this study is specifically for people whose heart attack was *not* caused by a major blockage in their heart arteries. If your doctors found a blockage of 50% or more, or if you've had stents or bypass surgery before, you wouldn't be able to join this particular study. Also, if there's another clear reason for your heart attack symptoms, like specific drug use or kidney problems, you might not fit the study criteria. The researchers will also check if you can safely have all the special scans involved.

Quick self-check

Are you 21 years or older?
Have you recently had a heart attack?
Were your main heart arteries NOT found to have major blockages (less than 50%)?
Do you feel comfortable having special heart scans (OCT and CMR)?
Are you able to provide consent and attend follow-up visits?
Are you not pregnant?

This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, the first step is to have special heart scans. This includes an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scan, which may happen during your initial heart procedure, and a Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) scan. These are similar to an MRI scan but specifically for your heart.

After these initial scans, you won't need to take any study medications. The study team will then follow your health for a long time – up to 10 years. They will check in with you every six months to see how you're doing and if you've had any new heart problems. These check-ins will likely be short and convenient, perhaps over the phone or at your local clinic. There's also an option to join a smaller part of the study looking at blood cells called platelets.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study won't directly improve your health, but the information gained will help doctors better understand and treat heart attacks in people without major blockages in the future. The special heart scans carry some very small risks, just like any medical procedure, which your doctor will explain fully. For instance, the OCT scan might involve a little extra contrast dye, and the CMR scan requires you to be comfortable with MRI scans (meaning no certain metal implants). You are free to change your mind and withdraw from the study at any time without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (20)

University of Alabama-Birmingham
Birmingham, United States
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, United States
UC San Diego Medical Center
San Diego, United States
Stanford University
Stanford, United States
University of Florida Medical Center
Gainesville, United States
Emory University
Atlanta, United States
Johns Hopkins Medical Center
Baltimore, United States
Dartmouth-Hitchcock
Lebanon, United States
NYU Winthrop
Mineola, United States
NYU Langone Medical Center
New York, United States
Columbia University Medical Center/NYPH
New York, United States
Ohio State University Medical Center
Columbus, United States

+8 more sites — see the official record for the full list.

Common questions

What is MINOCA?

MINOCA stands for Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries. It means you've had a heart attack, but the main arteries to your heart weren't heavily blocked.

Will I have to take new medicines?

No, this study doesn't involve taking any new medications. It's focused on using special scans to understand your heart condition.

How long does the study last?

The study will follow your health for a maximum of 10 years, with check-ins every six months.

What are OCT and CMR scans?

These are special, detailed heart scans. OCT uses light to look inside your arteries, and CMR uses strong magnets and radio waves to create detailed pictures of your heart, similar to an MRI.

Will this study help my heart attack recovery?

While the study won't directly treat your current heart attack, the information gathered will help doctors improve care for people with similar conditions in the future.