NYU Langone Study Proves Dual Imaging Identifies Hidden Causes In Nearly Eighty Percent Of Heart Attacks Without Blockages

New NYU Langone research shows that combining OCT and cardiac MRI identifies the cause of heart attacks in 79% of patients with clear arteries.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 31, 2026, 10:07 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from NYU Langone

Decoding the Mystery of Non Obstructive Heart Attacks

Clinical researchers at NYU Langone have addressed a long standing diagnostic gap in cardiology by demonstrating the efficacy of a dual imaging protocol for patients suffering from heart attacks without arterial blockages. This condition, known as myocardial infarction with non obstructive coronary arteries or MINOCA, accounts for up to 15 percent of all heart attacks. According to lead author Dr. Harmony R. Reynolds, the study proves that while these patients appear to have normal arteries on standard tests, specialized imaging can identify a specific underlying cause in 79 percent of cases.

High Resolution Insights Through Combined Technologies

The study utilized two complementary advanced imaging techniques to look beyond the limitations of traditional angiography. Coronary optical coherence tomography, or OCT, involves placing a microscopic catheter inside the arteries to detect wall damage or blood clots that are invisible to standard X-rays. When paired with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, which visualizes inflammation and muscle damage, doctors were able to differentiate between true ischemic heart attacks and conditions that mimic them, such as myocarditis or takotsubo syndrome.

Expanding the Scope of the Heart Attack Research Program

The latest findings from the Heart Attack Research Program represent one of the largest prospective international efforts to study MINOCA, involving 336 patients across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. While the condition is approximately three times more common in women, the research included both sexes to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the disease. The data, presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 2026 Annual Scientific Session, confirms that the biological mechanisms of these heart events are remarkably similar across different demographics once the condition occurs.