echo meauserement

If a male person was an athlete is his 20s and still jogs and runs a lot(45 miles per week) in his 40s and has an left atrial cavity area of 23.5cm2(during systole),but m-mode measurement of 3.6cm and right atrial cavity area of 21.0cm2 during systole and inferior vena cava that appears dilated and measuring 2.20cm would the above findings be consistent with athletic heart if this person has normal systolic and diastolic function,normal blood pressure,no a-fib,trivial mr and tr, pulmonary pressure of 25/12?Does mild LAE return to normal size once jogging and running is stopped?If it does how long after the activity is stopped does it return to normal size?How accurate are echo measurements of left atrium?I was told by some doctors that la m-mode measurements are imperfect,but other doctors told me that left atrial cavity areas are also imperfect.Is heart MRI(without injection&contrast) better test to measure atria?I also read somewhere that once you get mild LAE it stays for rest of once life?Thank you.

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

zk,

The only question that matters is: "What are your symptoms?"  Isolated LAE is of absolutely no concern.  Furthermore, there is nothing that could be done about it.  Even more, if you were to stop exercising because of LAE, you would be doing something detrimental to correct something that is of no consequence.

The increased size is almost certainly from athletic heart, but the finding should prompt you to ensure that you do not have undiagnosed high blood pressure.

Don't let LAE affect your life, for peet's sake.

Good luck.

[ked]

Hi I don't know much about what all that medical talk.  I have had several ekg, echo, and stress tests done mainly for svt and heart palpitations getting up to 184 bpm.  I have been dx with svt and mitral valve prolaspe.  I just requested all my records this week.  While reading over my first ekg, it says the patient has a left atrial enlargement.  Is that what your results were.  I couldn't really understand all your measurements.  I was walking on the treadmill several times a week a few months before this was taken but I would not consider myself very atheletic by no means.  One more question, how did you get a post with the doctors, I have been trying for weeks!!?

[zk]

Well my EKG is normal,but I am not cardiologist and don't know if mild LAE always shows on EKG.Does mild LAE always show on EKG?As for postings you can try in the mornings.

[zk]

What did doctor mean by"there is nothing that can be done aboat it." Does anybody know?Thank you.