A new breakthrough in diagnosing heart disease – especially for women

Inova Schar Heart and Vascular is bringing a powerful new tool to patients who have heart symptoms that are often hard to explain – and even harder to diagnose.

In partnership with Inova’s Women’s Cardiovascular Health Program, our interventional cardiologists are among the first in the nation to use a new technology – available at Inova Fairfax, Inova Alexandria and Inova Loudoun hospitals – that helps identify coronary microvascular disease, a condition that affects the heart’s tiniest blood vessels and is most commonly found in women.

“Women’s heart symptoms can look different, and too many women spend years searching for an explanation,” said Garima Sharma, MD, Martha Schar Chair of Women’s Cardiovascular Health and Director of Preventive Cardiology and Women’s Cardiovascular Health at Inova Schar Heart and Vascular. “Bringing advanced tools like this to our program is about closing that diagnostic gap – so women get answers and care that reflect their reality.”

Unlike traditional heart disease, which affects the heart’s major arteries, microvascular disease can cause chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, and increase the risk of heart failure – even when standard tests appear normal.

“When a patient’s symptoms don’t match the test results, it can be frustrating and frightening,” said Kelly Epps, MD, Associate Director of Women’s Cardiovascular Health and and one of the interventional cardiologist performing the procedure. “This tool helps us connect the dots, so patients don’t feel dismissed – and we can move from uncertainty to a plan.”

Advanced technology provides a clearer, more complete picture of blood flow throughout the heart allowing physicians to better understand what’s causing symptoms and guide more precise care.

“Using the CoroFlow system, we can assess blood flow in both the large coronary arteries and the smaller vessels during the same procedure,” said Behnam Tehrani, MD, System Associate Director for Interventional Cardiology at Inova Schar Heart and Vascular, Executive Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories and Co-Director of the Complex Coronary Therapeutics Program. “That fuller picture can help us match patients with more targeted treatment and a clearer path forward.”

“We are particularly excited to offer this technology not only at Inova Fairfax Hospital but also at all three Inova hospital locations with cardiac catheterization services,” said Eric Pauley, MD, Medical Director of Inova Loudoun Hospital’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab and cardiac rehabilitation program. “Offering this advanced technology at three locations makes it easily accessible across Northern Virginia.”

“Microvascular disease has posed a real diagnostic challenge until now – and the sooner we can identify it, the sooner we can focus on what will actually help,” said Dr. Epps.

“This is precision medicine in real time – using better information to guide better care,” said Dr. Tehrani. “Our goal is simple: help patients get answers faster and feel confident they’re being heard and treated thoughtfully.”

Inova Schar Heart and Vascular is committed to combining innovation, expertise, and compassion to help patients get the answers they need and the care they deserve.

Learn more about Inova’s Interventional Cardiology services