Learn more about microvascular angina; new answers for unexplained chest pain.
Nearly 10 million Americans have angina pectoris, with approximately 500,000 new cases diagnosed each year. This condition is often a warning sign of worse troubles ahead—heart failure, stroke, myocardial infarction, and death. While many cases of angina have a common cause – blockage in the major coronary arteries, which can be treated by cardiac angioplasty or cardiac heart bypass surgery. However, a surprising number do not, leading to repeated testing, ineffective therapy, and, in the absence of a clear diagnosis and care plan, patient distress and dissatisfaction. The culprit is often microvascular angina or coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), sometimes called small artery disease or small vessel disease is a heart condition that affects the walls and inner lining of tiny coronary artery blood vessels that branch off from the larger coronary arteries. It is estimated that 50% of all angina cases can occur in patients who have CMD, and the majority of these patients are women.
What is microvascular angina?
Coronary microvascular dysfunction is a type of unexplained chest pain.
Sometimes called small artery disease or small vessel disease, coronary microvascular dysfunction (MVD) is a condition that affects the walls and inner lining of the tiny coronary artery blood vessels that branch from the larger coronary arteries. This condition causes microvascular angina or chest pain.
Women experience MVD more frequently than men especially during menopause. The risk factors for MVD are the same as coronary artery disease: smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, poor diet, and lack of exercise.
The signs and symptoms of MVD include fatigue, shortness of breath, and sleep issues. These symptoms occur during stress and daily activities, in contrast to a heart attack which often occurs during exercise.
Diagnosis
MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute is one of only a few programs in the nation to use the Coroventis CoroFlow™ Cardiovascular System: an advanced, software-based platform that, along with a special companion guidewire, can effectively measure the workings of the heart’s tiniest blood vessels—a feat beyond the capabilities of standard CT and coronary angiogram. This assessment is done during a coronary angiogram or cardiac catheterization procedure. Physicians now can correctly diagnosis and treat coronary microvascular dysfunction.
Treatment
MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute is one of only a few programs in the nation to offer an innovative technology that can effectively measure the heart's tiniest blood vessels. Physicians can now diagnose and treat coronary microvascular dysfunctions correctly.
To learn more, please call:
MedStar Washington Hospital Center: 301-892-3302
MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center: 301-683-7004
Our providers
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Interventional Cardiology
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Itshac Ben-Dor, MD
Valvular Disease Cardiology, Structural Heart Disease Cardiology & Interventional Cardiology
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Brian Christopher Case, MD
Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology & Internal Medicine
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Hayder Dhafir Hashim, MD
Interventional Cardiology
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Have questions for our heart and vascular program? Email us at AskMHVI@medstar.net.