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

Role of the Neurovascular System in Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD)

Status

Recruiting

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT05699200

Enrollment

Registered

2023-01-26

Start date

2023-06-01

Completion date

2027-08-31

Last updated

2025-06-12

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection, Healthy

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.

Interventions

OTHERArterial Tonometry

We will measure arterial stiffness using arterial tonometry.

DIAGNOSTIC_TESTEchocardiogram

We will collect limited ultrasound images of the heart.

DIAGNOSTIC_TESTCarotid Ultrasounds

We will perform ultrasound imaging of the carotid artery.

DIAGNOSTIC_TESTElastography

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

OTHERAnkle-Brachial Index

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

OTHERMicroneurography with sympathoexcitatory maneuvers

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

Study design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

FEMALE

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

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

Exclusion criteria

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

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Arterial thickness	Baseline	Measured by carotid ultrasound intimal media thickness reporting in mm
Arterial stiffness	Baseline	Measured by carotid ultrasound pulse wave velocity reporting in m/s
Baroreflex sensitivity	Baseline	The slope between heart rate and blood pressure at rest and during the Valsalva Maneuver (ms/mmHg)
Sympathetic response to stress	Baseline	Blood pressure or muscle sympathetic nerve activity response to sympathoexcitatory stressors (mm/Hg or bursts/min).

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactPamela Engrav

Engrav.Pamela@mayo.edu507-255-6938

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026