caddiolate stress test

Hello,my husband whom is 48 years old and a strong family history of heart disease(father died at 52,brother at 47 ,3 aunts also died early of massive heart attacks) had an abnormal ekg in office visit.They sent him for a cardiolite stress test.The test showed mild left ventricular enlargement,thinning of radiotracer uptake in the inferior wall.the left ventricular ejection fraction is estimated at 50%.He has high blood pressure,high cholestrol,diabetes,and takes 80 mg of lasix 2x a day.The doctor told him that they would monitor him but we are still very concerned.Can you tell us what the test showed exactly,should he be seeing a heart doctor? Thank you!

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

Hello poohcarr,

I agree that you should see a cardiologist.  Studies show that patients get better cardiac care from a cardiologist compared to GPs.  Is it safe for me to assume he is on other medications besides just lasix?

You husband has several risk factors for coronary disease

diabetes,
high blood pressure
cholesterol
family history
I assume he doesn't smoke.

This is someone that I would aggressively manage risk factors and would have on several medications that are proven to decrease cardiac events and mortality.

aspirin
statin
probably a beta blocker and possibly an ACE inhibitor

I am not sure how to interpret the report you mentioned above.  I am not sure if left ventricular enlargement means chamber enlargment, post stress dilation, or left ventricular hypertrophy.  I think your best bet is to see a specialist.

good luck and thanks for posting!

[EchoTech]

He needs to see a cardiologist.  He has several risk factors that need to be respected.  He may not have a problem, but in my experience, it always pays to see a specialist (cardiologist).  This situation from the info given is no exception.   Another thing, if the general doc wants to change some of your cardiac medicines, be sure that the cardiologist is brought into the loop.  GPs have a way of unintentionally  creating problems by not communicating.