Non-invasive coronary thrombus imaging to define the cause of acute myocardial infarction

我们现在有非常敏感的血液测试，可以发现心脏的损伤，发现心脏病发作的病人。然而，虽然这是受欢迎的，但它并不能确定是什么原因导致心脏病发作，有时会发现其他导致心脏紧张的情况。心脏病发作的经典原因是心脏动脉内的脂肪沉积物上形成血块。这导致用血液稀释药物治疗患者，这非常有效，可以挽救生命。然而，许多明显的心脏病发作不是由血栓引起的，有些可能是由血液引起的，但未被识别。在这项提案中，我们将测试一种令人兴奋的新成像测试，可以从体外“看到”心脏动脉中是否有血块。我们开发了一种新技术，使用一种复杂的扫描技术，称为正电子发射断层扫描。这使用了微量的辐射，这些辐射被纳入一个只粘在血块上的智能探头中。这是第一次，我们将能够看到哪些类型的心脏病发作是由血栓引起的，以及这些血栓来自哪里。这可以提供一种评估患者的主要新方法，以确保他们得到正确的诊断和正确的治疗。这可能最终改善心脏病发作患者的预后。

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 bloods 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. We have developed a new technique using a sophisticated scanning technique called positron emission tomography. This uses trace amounts of radiation that is incorporated into a smart probe that only sticks to blood clots. For the first time, we will be able to see which types of heart attacks are caused by blood clots and where these clots have originated from. 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.