The Coronary Microvascular Disease Study is a prospective, diagnostic study launched in 2018 that aims to determine the causes of disorders affecting smaller blood vessels in men and women with open coronary arteries, which means that all major coronary arteries are less than 50 percent narrowed. People who have chest pain or an abnormal stress test and have open coronary arteries—a condition known as ischemia with nonobstructive coronary arteries, or INOCA—may be eligible to participate. The blood vessels that cause symptoms and INOCA are too small to be seen on an angiogram.

Participants in the Coronary Microvascular Disease Study receive an additional assessment of the coronary arteries during cardiac catheterization, collection of blood and biomarkers, and non-invasive imaging of blood vessels under the tongue. In a collaboration with the Heart Attack Research Program, participants complete questionnaires to help us explore the relationships between genetics and circulating biomarkers, stress and coronary microvascular disease. Participants also have the opportunity to participate in an additional study using noninvasive CT imaging to evaluate inflammation of the coronary arteries as it relates to microvascular disease.

How to Participate

The Coronary Microvascular Disease Study is currently enrolling participants who are referred for cardiac catheterization at NYU Langone and have chest discomfort, shortness of breath or an abnormal stress test.

If you would like more information about opportunities to participate in our study, please email harp@nyulangone.org.

Collaborating Centers

The Coronary Microvascular Disease Study is currently recruiting at NYU Langone and at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue.

Trial Sponsors

The Coronary Microvascular Disease Study is funded by a grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health.

Who We Are

The Coronary Microvascular Disease study is led by Nathaniel R. Smilowitz, MD. The study is affiliated with the Heart Attack Research Program led by Harmony R. Reynolds, MD, director of the Sarah Ross Soter Center for Women’s Cardiovascular Research in the Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center at NYU Langone.

Contact Us

For general inquiries about the study, email Dr. Smilowitz at nathaniel.smilowitz@nyulangone.org or our study team at harp@nyulangone.org.