Re: Thallium stress test

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - MTR on November 27, 1998 at 22:34:26:

In Reply to: Thallium stress test posted by Jim on November 27, 1998 at 15:13:36:






I am a 70 year old male and had a triple bypass at the CC in 1990 courtesy of Drs. Cosgrove and Dorosti following a MI in 1979.  I am asymtomatic and very active with no other ailments.
The November issue of The CC Heart Advisor suggests  that a thallium stress test done three to six years after bypass can be a significant predictor of  risk of a second MI.
My question is as follows;  Can the results of a thallium stress test done locally in 1996 be used to make a risk assesment?  Will the CC make such an assesment if the results are supplied?



  
Dear Jim, thank you for your question.  You ask an insightful question.  I suspect that if your 1996 thallium stress test was normal and your are doing well clinically now, you should be at a low risk for a recurrent heart attack.  However, I think your best course of action is to call Dr. Dorostis office and speak to him about your risk assessment.  There may have been some change since 1998 that could make the results of your 1996 thallium obselete, but your physicians will have to determine that.  Abnormal thallium stress tests after bypass surgery are predictive of adverse events, but risk assessment needs to be individualized for each patient.
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.