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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Atrium size
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Atrium size
by Anthony__0, Dec 20, 1998 12:00AM
Hi On my first echo left atrium was 4.0cm with normal limits of 2.0--4.0cm.On the report says under the heading of left atrium/pulmonary veins "The left atrial cavity appears mildly dilated".Also on the report says that I have trivial tricuspid and mitral valve regurgitation.Tricuspid valve regurgitant velocity is 200.0 cm/s and RV systolic prssure is 21mmHg.On the second echo (at different doctor) LADs was 3.8cm with normal limits of 2.0--4.0cm.When I asked a doctor if left atrium is dilated, he said no.He also told me that valves are normal.Questions.1.What does "The left atrial cavity appears mildly dilated" mean and is it dilated because of trivial tricuspid and mitral valve regurgitation?2.How significant is tricuspid valve regurgitant velocity of 200.0cm/s and RV systolc pressure of 21 mmHg?Well, I know that LVIDd enlarges because of physical activity(fitness) and LVPWd and IVSd follow to a lesser extent.3.Does left atrium also enlarges with physical fitness on the level of LVIDd or LVPWd and IVSd?Thank you.Anthony
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Dear Anthony,
Thank you for your question. Remember that when a doctor orders a test and gives you the results he/she has an obligation to explain them to you. If you are not completely satisfied with their answers set up a time to sit down and go over things with him/her.
That being said left atrium size can be affected by valvular abnormalities and is not influenced by physical activity. Mildly dilated means only minor or little dilation. Regurgitant velocity and RV systolic pressure are measures of the filling pressures of the heart and yours were in the normal range.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
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.
