A Study to Analyze the Role of Sympathetic Nervous System in Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection

NCT05699200 | Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: 21-0056361K23HL155506
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this research is to compare sympathetic function (flight or fight system) and arterial health including structure and mechanics of participants with history of spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) to age and sex matched control participants.

Conditions

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection; Healthy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Arterial thickness

  Measured by carotid ultrasound intimal media thickness reporting in mm

  Baseline

• Arterial stiffness

  Measured by carotid ultrasound pulse wave velocity reporting in m/s

  Baseline

• Baroreflex sensitivity

  The slope between heart rate and blood pressure at rest and during the Valsalva Maneuver (ms/mmHg)

  Baseline

• Sympathetic response to stress

  Blood pressure or muscle sympathetic nerve activity response to sympathoexcitatory stressors (mm/Hg or bursts/min).

  Baseline

Study Arms (2)

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) group

OTHER

Subject with a history of SCAD will undergo a series of diagnostic studies to assess neurovascular function.

Other: Arterial Tonometry; Diagnostic Test: Echocardiogram; Diagnostic Test: Carotid Ultrasounds; Diagnostic Test: Elastography; Other: Ankle-Brachial Index; Other: Microneurography with sympathoexcitatory maneuvers

Healthy Control Group

OTHER

Healthy subjects will undergo a series of diagnostic studies to assess neurovascular function.

Other: Arterial Tonometry; Diagnostic Test: Echocardiogram; Diagnostic Test: Carotid Ultrasounds; Diagnostic Test: Elastography; Other: Ankle-Brachial Index; Other: Microneurography with sympathoexcitatory maneuvers

Interventions

Arterial Tonometry OTHER

We will measure arterial stiffness using arterial tonometry.

Healthy Control Group; Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) group

Echocardiogram DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

We will collect limited ultrasound images of the heart.

Healthy Control Group; Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) group

Carotid Ultrasounds DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

We will perform ultrasound imaging of the carotid artery.

Healthy Control Group; Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) group

Elastography DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

We will measure the elastic properties of the arteries using elastography.

Healthy Control Group; Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) group

Ankle-Brachial Index OTHER

We will measure the ankle-brachial index to assess peripheral artery blood flow.

Healthy Control Group; Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) group

Microneurography with sympathoexcitatory maneuvers OTHER

We will measure sympathetic nerve activity at rest and in response to isometric handgrip, mental stress test, cold pressor test, Valsalva maneuvers.

Healthy Control Group; Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• For SCAD patients: history of SCAD as confirmed by coronary angiography or cardiac computed tomography angiography
• For controls: no cardiac disease history

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnancy
• Known or suspected unstable cardiac condition within 4 weeks of the study
• Active treatment with anticoagulation or dual antiplatelet therapy
• Prisoner

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Mayo Clinic: lead
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Mayo Clinic Rochester

Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Coronary Artery Dissection, Spontaneous

Interventions

Echocardiography; Ultrasonography, Carotid Arteries; Elasticity Imaging Techniques

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cardiac Imaging Techniques; Diagnostic Imaging; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Ultrasonography; Heart Function Tests; Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular

Study Officials

• Marysia Tweet, MD, MS

  Mayo Clinic

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Pamela Engrav

CONTACT

507-255-6938; Engrav.Pamela@mayo.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 16, 2023
• First Posted: January 26, 2023
• Study Start: June 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2027
• Last Updated: June 12, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)