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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Aortic Insufficiency
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Aortic Insufficiency
by Don__0__0, Aug 30, 1998 12:00AM
: : Male/52,without any symptoms, playing competitive tennis. Echo/Doppler Interpretation: 1. Left atrium is upper limits of normal size. 2. Mitral valve is thickened but there is no prolapse. 3. Aortic valve is thickened, particulary in a noncoronary cusp. 4. Right ventricle is normal. 5. Doppler shows 3+ or moderately severe aortic insufficiency, there is mild mitral insufficiency and mild tricuspid insufficiency.
: : Specifically my question centers around my drug therapy. At first (about 1yr ago I was started on 2.5mg of an ACE Inhibitor, Vasotec (enalapril). A recent second opinion strongly indicated I should be taking a calcium channel blocker, Procardia XL (nifedipine). Can you give me an indication of what medication I should be taking regarding my diag. Can you point me to studies, ect. Also would be interested in hearing from anyone with a similar diag., in terms of recommended medications. Thanks, jd
: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
:
: Dear jd
: Both medicines have been shown to delay the progression of aortic insufficiency. They work by decreasing the load against which the heart and leaky aortic valve have to pump against. Either medication is reasonable. If your left ventricle is weak (you did not mention it in your echo results), however, the vasotec would be preferable.
: I hope this has been useful. Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck.
: Information provided here is of a general nature. Specific diagnoses and treatments can only be made by your doctor. If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at Desk F15.
My Stress Echo indicates normal left ventricular size and systolic function. I take this to mean that there is no weakness on contraction. Why would vasotec be preferable with a weak LV? Also the following listing appears on my echo report. Could you please link me to a site that would explain these dimensions, or would you please give me an explanation so I can better understand my results:
LVIDd
LVIDs
Septal Exc.
LVPW Th
LVPW Exc.
LVEF
Fx. Short
RVID
LA
Aortic Root
AV Opening
Pericardial Eff.
Thank you very much, jd
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Dear Joseph
Drugs like vasotec have been shown to be useful in preventing progression of a weak left ventricle.
Your echo results indicate a normal left ventricle. I would not worry about the other measurements; they just have to do with the size of various parts of the heart. You should get periodic echocardiograms by your cardiologist to make sure that the valve does not get any worse and that the left ventricle does not start to decompensate, either of which would be a possible indication for surgery.
I hope this has been useful. Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck.
Information provided here is of a general nature. Specific diagnoses and treatments can only be made by your doctor. If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at Desk F15.
: : Specifically my question centers around my drug therapy. At first (about 1yr ago I was started on 2.5mg of an ACE Inhibitor, Vasotec (enalapril). A recent second opinion strongly indicated I should be taking a calcium channel blocker, Procardia XL (nifedipine). Can you give me an indication of what medication I should be taking regarding my diag. Can you point me to studies, ect. Also would be interested in hearing from anyone with a similar diag., in terms of recommended medications. Thanks, jd
: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
:
: Dear jd
: Both medicines have been shown to delay the progression of aortic insufficiency. They work by decreasing the load against which the heart and leaky aortic valve have to pump against. Either medication is reasonable. If your left ventricle is weak (you did not mention it in your echo results), however, the vasotec would be preferable.
: I hope this has been useful. Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck.
: Information provided here is of a general nature. Specific diagnoses and treatments can only be made by your doctor. If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at Desk F15.
My Stress Echo indicates normal left ventricular size and systolic function. I take this to mean that there is no weakness on contraction. Why would vasotec be preferable with a weak LV? Also the following listing appears on my echo report. Could you please link me to a site that would explain these dimensions, or would you please give me an explanation so I can better understand my results:
LVIDd
LVIDs
Septal Exc.
LVPW Th
LVPW Exc.
LVEF
Fx. Short
RVID
LA
Aortic Root
AV Opening
Pericardial Eff.
Thank you very much, jd
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Joseph
Drugs like vasotec have been shown to be useful in preventing progression of a weak left ventricle.
Your echo results indicate a normal left ventricle. I would not worry about the other measurements; they just have to do with the size of various parts of the heart. You should get periodic echocardiograms by your cardiologist to make sure that the valve does not get any worse and that the left ventricle does not start to decompensate, either of which would be a possible indication for surgery.
I hope this has been useful. Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck.
Information provided here is of a general nature. Specific diagnoses and treatments can only be made by your doctor. If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at Desk F15.
