New Cardiac Imaging Device Could Improve Detection of Dangerous Arterial Plaque

Coronary artery disease develops when plaque accumulates inside the arteries supplying blood to the heart. Plaque can narrow the arteries and restrict blood flow, causing chest discomfort or breathlessness. In some cases, plaque rupture triggers a blood clot that blocks an artery and causes a heart attack.

Standard imaging techniques provide important information about coronary arteries, but identifying which plaques are most likely to cause future problems remains a challenge. The UC Davis research team tested a catheter that combines two types of imaging to assess both the physical structure and biochemical composition of plaque.

In principle, combining these measurements could help physicians distinguish between different types of plaque and make better-informed decisions about treatment. The technology may eventually contribute to more personalised assessment of heart attack risk.

However, first-in-human testing is an early step in evaluating a medical device. Further studies are needed to establish diagnostic accuracy, procedural safety, usefulness in routine clinical practice and whether using the device improves patient outcomes.

The findings do not mean that existing cardiac tests should be replaced. People with chest pain, sudden breathlessness or other possible heart-attack symptoms should seek emergency medical care.