Finding high-risk coronary plaque in people with a family history of heart attack

High-risk Coronary Atherosclerosis in Subjects With Family History of Myocardial Infarction; the FAMILY Study

NA · I.R.C.C.S Ospedale Galeazzi-Sant'Ambrogio · NCT07352111

This project will use cardiac CT to see if asymptomatic adults with a family history of heart attack have hidden high-risk coronary plaque and whether blood and genetic tests relate to that.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment200 (estimated)
Ages40 Years to 70 Years
SexAll
SponsorI.R.C.C.S Ospedale Galeazzi-Sant'Ambrogio (other)
Locations1 site (Milan)
Trial IDNCT07352111 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This prospective, single-center project will enroll a consecutive cohort of asymptomatic adults who have a positive family history of coronary artery disease. Each participant will undergo a per-protocol cardiac CT with advanced atherosclerosis analysis to identify high-risk plaque features and overall coronary burden. At the time of imaging, blood samples will be collected for bio-humoral markers and genetic testing to explore correlations with imaging findings. The investigators will compare the prevalence of high-risk atherosclerosis to expectations from standard risk stratification and examine whether cardiac CT findings could reclassify patients toward more intensive primary prevention.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Asymptomatic adults with a positive family history of coronary artery disease, no known cardiovascular disease, and willing to undergo cardiac CT and blood testing are the intended participants.

Not a fit: Patients who already have known cardiovascular disease, any cardiac symptoms, or who cannot have cardiac CT (for example due to pregnancy or contrast allergy) are unlikely to benefit from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could identify people at higher risk earlier so they can receive more intensive preventive treatment to lower future heart attack risk.

How similar studies have performed: Previous work shows cardiac CT reliably detects subclinical and high-risk coronary plaque and can improve risk prediction, but specifically targeting asymptomatic people based solely on family history is less well studied.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* patients with postive family history of CAD

Exclusion Criteria:

* known cardiovascular diseases
* any symptoms

Where this trial is running

Milan

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Coronary Artery Diease, Cardiac CT, family history of CAD, atherosclerosis, primary prevention

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.