Cardiomyopathy and improving ef values

[xtrasalt]

We are in the process of reviewing an adoption of a 6 year old Thai girl. Her medical lists seven hospitalizations for pneumonia from 2002 to 2003 and dilated cardiomyopathy. She is experiencing no shortness of breath nor edema and her last med 8/2005 showed “improvement – no clinical heart failure – normal left ventricular function.” She was on Lasix syrup, lanoxin syrup, enarapril and alductone, from 10/2003 to 8/2005 and then was removed from all meds. Her EF was 20% 10/03, then 20% 11/03 and then rose to 58% in 8/05! She also has an elevated LDH of 358 with all other blood test being normal. She also is reported to have no heart murmur.

Is this change in EF “normal” or possible for a diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy? She is such a sweet girl and my wife and I just want to have some idea of her prognosis. We understand that this is not a diagnosis and will be pursuing a full medical consult shortly!

Thanks

Chuck

[Momto3]

Chuck,

Good luck with the impending adoption!  How exciting!!  It's entirely possible that the little girl's EF improved as a result of her medical regime.  The fact that she is not SOB, no edema, shows no clinican heart failure and has normal left venricular function is excellent! My EF was at 40% a couple of years ago (cardiomyopathy diagnosed, but no heart failure), and after 2 ablations for chronic pvcs and the RX lisinopril, I am happy to say it has been back up to 55-60% for 3 years.  Hopefully, the CM was a one-time event and the excellent medicial care has given her an excellent prognosis.

Best of luck to you and your wife on the adoption process!

[anacyde]

If she has recovered and is off of all medication, her prognosis should be excellent!  It is definitely possible for a person to recover heart function completely after having cardiomyopathy, and it sounds as if that little girl's future is looking good.  Prognosis after cardiomyopathy is dependent upon recovery of left ventricular size and normal systolic function (her EF), and both are now normal.  I'm so happy to hear that!

[anacyde]

Because I suffered from a mild form of peripartum cardiomyipathy (caused by my pregnancy)  I *need* to add that if you adopt this little girl, make sure she is followed with an echo sometime in her teens if she ever plans on having children.  Women with cardiomyopathy (even pregnancy related) can go on to have normal pregnancies, but being proactive in the event of a relapse or signs of stress on the heart can mean avoiding problems later ;)

[xtrasalt]

Thank you both very much for your info! We will be forwarding her medical report to Tufts for a review but just wanted to see what the boards had to say! Adoption is hard enough especially foreign and then adding this is, but she is so precious and it feeld RIGHT!!  BTW: is it ever possible to get a medical review through the DR. moderator forum? I have been trying to post the same question on that board for over a week, but no luck posting, quantity always reached for day!

Thanks again

Chuck