What is MINOCA?

MINOCA is short form for myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries. Myocardial infarction is heart muscle damage due to loss of blood supply, usually due to a block in the blood vessel to the region. Coronary arteries are blood vessels of the heart. But in MINOCA, though there is heart muscle damage, there is no significant block in the blood vessel to that region as seen on imaging tests like coronary angiogram. Coronary angiogram is X-ray imaging of the blood vessels of the heart obtained during injection of radiocontrast medications into them. In short, MINOCA is a heart attack without a block!