Hello doctor,
My mother has heart palpitations at night. She has had high blood pressure for many years and is currently taking tablet Exforge HCT 5 mg/160 mg/12.5 mg. I want to show a heart doctor two results of my mother's echocardiogram, one taken today and another one a year before. It says, 'dilated left ventricle internal dimensions with good systolic and impaired diastolic function grade I,' with LVEDD 62 mm, LVESD 40 mm, FS 35%, and EF 64%. Does this mean she has dilated cardiomyopathy? Please help.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern. LV (left ventricle) is slightly dilated, but this is not cardiomyopathy. The mitral valve is prolapsing and leaking, not severe. There is no need of worrying. Only annual Echocardiography surveillance is all that is needed. Control blood pressure strictly to prevent worsening of mitral regurgitation. Otherwise, echocardiography is normal.
Thank you.
Thank you doctor.
Then can you please explain to me the meaning of dilated left ventricle internal dimensions mentioned in the echocardiography? Because once I search for dilated left ventricle online, it always shows me that it means dilated cardiomyopathy, and I read horrible things about it and how it has a poor prognosis. Please advise.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Dilated means left ventricles size has increased. Your mother's ejection fraction is 64%, which is normal and good. The causes are many. The most common is heart attack and chronic angina. Other causes are hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disorders, cancer chemotherapy, pregnancy, alcohol, rhythm abnormalities, amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, and the list is very long. But in all, the heart's function is compromised, which is measured as ejection fraction. The abnormal thing is the mitral valve is prolapsing and moderately leaking. It slowly can progress over the years to become severely leaky. For that, control of blood pressure is essential with medicines. If she has shortness of breath, I suggest diuretics.
Thank you.
Thank you doctor for the insight.
So is that increase in left ventricle size called left ventricular hypertrophy? If yes, is it mild or severe? Please help.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
No, it is not hypertrophy, it is dilatation. It does occur with mitral regurgitation. To decrease the progression of LV dilatation, blood pressure control with medicines is essential. Treatment depends upon the presence or absence and severity of symptoms.
Thank you.
Thank you doctor.
Do you suggest surgery for her mitral regurgitation before it is too late? Also, is the life expectancy for her case is five years like I read on the internet because of this LV dilatation? Please advise.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Surgery is done in case of severe mitral regurgitation with symptoms. Your mother's mitral regurgitation is moderate. However, no parameters are mentioned in the echocardiography report (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity) on which basis it was labeled moderate. With moderate MR (mitral regurgitation), life expectancy is near normal. I hope this helps.
Thank you.
Was this answer helpful?
|Same symptoms doesn’t mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
Related Questions:
What can be done for irregular heartbeat with chest and shoulder pain?
.. have is called premature ventricular contractions (AKA PVCs), which are extra beats coming from the bottom chamber of the heart and in some occasions they present in every other beat (what is called ventricular bigeminy) (attachment removed to pro... Read full
What does an irregular heartbeat mean?.. your concerns. Your symptoms are most likely due to heart arrhythmia most likely AFib (atrial fibrillation), the most common arrhythmia which causes palpitations and may be completely asymptomatic. The other possible causes include SVT (supraventr... Read full
I had vibration in my chest associated with shoulder pain. What does it indicate?.. had a transient arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm). The most common type of abnormal heart rhythm at your age (assuming you do not have any pre-existing heart conditions) is supraventricular tachycardia. This can produce symptoms like palpitation... Read full
Comprehensive Medical Second Opinion.
