Hypertrophy and PVCs

[hankstar]

Thanks for taking my questions. I have been aware of my heartbeat
all of my life whether fast or slow. I had several bouts of PVCs which lasted from days to months, each time I had been taking a beta blocker, first inderal , then atenolol, each time I stopped the medications , the PVCs subsided, I only get an occasional one now and then. DO you think these medications can aggravate PVCs in some patients?
They have been caught on an ECG , and  a holter monitor, and I have been assured they are benign and nothing to worry about, I also had a exercise stress test(BRUCE) while having PVCs, probably had about 10 during the whole test, did execellent and was assured I was going to be alright, which after all these years and nothing bad has happened I finally believe.
Just one or two more questions, I had an echo done about ayear and a half and was diagnosed with marginal concentric left ventricular hypertrophy and a redundancy of the mitral leaflets with no frank mitral valve prolapse.
These are the measurements.
IVSTD 12.1MM            
LVIDD 45.3MM
LVPWD 9.2MM
IVSTS 17.3MM
LVIDS 25.7MM
LVPWS 15.0
EF .75

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IVSTD 10.7MM
LVIDD 43.0MM
LVPWD 10.1MM
IVSTS 15.3MM
LVIDS 28.3MM
LVPWS 14.4MM
EF .64

_____________________________
These are two different measurements taking off of the same echo,
In your opinion from these figures would you agree that I have marginal concentric left LV hypertrophy? Also what is my ejection
fraction? From what I have read these figures appear to be within the normal ranges, Would you agree?

Thanks,

[CCF-M.D.-KE]

LVH and PVCs:

Sorry to hear about your PVCs and I hope you are feeling better, I will attempt to address each of your concerns.

1. I don't think that beta blockers aggrevate PVCs. Beta blockers slow the heart rate and decrease the heart's force of contraction. However, I can not say that  100% of people on beta blockers will have an improvement in PVCs. Some people may sense more contractions for some reason. But in selected patients I use beta blockers to treat PVCs.

2. The induction of PVCs during an exercise stress test is a sign of increased risk, though it maybe  subtle. I would discuss this with your doctor.

3. Within the first group of numbers your ejection fraction is read as 75% and the second group reads your ejection fraction as 64%. Both of these values are within normal limits

4. I would agree that you probably have mild LVH,however most of the values mentioned are within normal limits. The back wall of the heart may be a little thicker than normal. I would recommend discussing these findings with your doctor.

Thanks for your question,


CCF-MD-KE