New technique to measure blood flow for patients with coronary artery disease

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - University of Virginia’s School of Medicine discovered a new technique to help measure blood flow for patients with coronary artery disease.

The new technique is called cardiac magnetic resonance imaging or CMR stress testing.

One cardiologist says this is less invasive than previous techniques.

“Using MRI, we’ve shown that you can measure the blood flow into the heart muscle without the use of an invasive procedure and also without the use of radiation,” Cardiologist and UVA Professor of Medicine Amit Patel said.

Coronary artery disease is when arteries supplying blood become narrow or blocked.

It can affect anyone but poses a higher risk as you get older.

UVA cardiologist Amit Patel says a new technique is helping doctors with the diagnosis.

“This technique is going to increase the accuracy about to 90%,” Patel said. “What that means is that we’ll more correctly identify patients who have these blockages and they’ll be more likely to get the treatments that would help benefit their symptoms.”

What makes it different from previous methods is that it’s non-invasive.

Instead of surgery, you can use a cardiac magnetic resonance imaging scan.

It creates detailed images of the heart and blood vessels.

“Quantitative measurements to support the physicians, radiologists, and cardiologists performing this test,” Patel said. “I think we really can make it more available to our patients everywhere.”

Patel says exercising and quitting cigarettes can help lower the risk of coronary artery disease.

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