Question Title: A false Positive result

Dear Dr. Two weeks ago, my husband was getting chest pain again. He had a
prev. MI last year. He went to the hospital and everything seemed fine. They feel that this is either an ulcer or acid reflux. Prior to this, his
cardiologist put him on prislosec which did help the new pains he was feeling. The pain that forced him to the hospital was not this pain. He said it felt somewhat like the start of his heart attack. The Cardiologist told us to go get a scope test and gi series done. We went to
the primary care physician to get a referrel (for insurance purposes) and
he was dead set against the scope test because he said it is a stressful test, let alone for a heart patient, and he felt that you don't look for
acid reflux or ulcers until you rule out completely heart problems. The last nuclear stress test was sept 98, so he felt it was time for a new one.
But, the Cardiologist didn't order a new stress test because she said that the last one showed a false positive reading, (looked like he had another blockage, but he didn't) so it seems she won't rely on it. The primary had
a copy of the last test, knew it looked like a blockage and wasn't and still felt it was necessary to rule out heart problem first. He's taking the test today anyway, but which way would you go. Do you never rely on
another stress test because one had a false pos reading, and also even if there was no blockage, wouldn't the reading mean that although there is no blockage, the heart is working like there is. There is still a problem.
I'd appreciate any info. By the way, if you want to see the results, it's listed in the achives under " What is Hypokenisis" Thank you. Laura

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Dear Laura

I agree with your internist - I would rule out heart disease first. If the previous stress test was a false positive, I would get another type of stress test this time. A false positive test refers to an abnormal result on a test that does not reflect a true problem.

I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.

Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.

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