Novel Biomarkers of Thrombotic Risk

Treatment of patients who have had a heart attack with drugs that prevent formation of blood
clots has been shown to reduce the patient's risk of subsequent cardiovascular events such
as heart attack, stroke, and death. Because new drugs have increased treatment options, the
development of tests that can guide treatment should improve treatment selection and further
reduce the risk of cardiovascular events as well as bleeding. This study is designed to
assess the value of new tests. It is a prospective study that will enroll patients who have
had a heart attack. Blood will be taken during hospitalization for a heart attack (1 day
after their heart attack) and a second time 6 months later during an ambulatory clinical
visit. Investigators will perform biochemical tests on the blood that assess the likelihood
of making blood clots. One tablespoon of blood will be taken at each time. Taking this
amount of blood poses no risk to the participant. Investigators will ask the participant
whether they have had bleeding or cardiovascular events during the initial evaluation, the
ambulatory follow-up at 6 months, and during a telephone interview 1 year after enrollment.
During their 1 year of participation, investigators will review medical records and record
information in a manner that protects the identity of all participants. We hypothesize that
the biochemical test results will be similar at baseline and 6 month follow-up and that
these biochemical tests will identify patients at greater risk of cardiovascular events and
bleeding. Treatment of participants will not be altered by their participation in this
study.