High-risk Coronary Atherosclerosis in Subjects With Family History of Myocardial Infarction

The evidence of high-risk atherosclerosis at cardiac CT (CCT) may support aggressive primary prevention treatment, reducing the risk of future cardiovascular events. Family history of coronary artery disease (CAD) is a risk factor for cardiovascular events but limited data described the prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis in these patients.

Aims of the FAMILY project are to explore the prevalence of high-risk coronary atherosclerosis among patients with family history of CAD, to explore whether CCT in this setting may to reclassify patients' vs standard of care and to explore correlations between genetic background and high risk and potentially unstable coronary atherosclerosis.

A consecutive cohort of asymptomatic of patients with family history of CAD will be prospectively enrolled. A per-protocol CCT with advanced atherosclerosis analysis will be performed. At the time of CCT a blood sample will be collected for bio-humoral and genetic investigation. The prevalence of high risk atherosclerosis will be quantified, the reclassification rate of CCT vs clinical evaluation evaluated and the potential in vivo association between genetic profile and high risk atherosclerosis explored.