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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
which test should I believe?
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which test should I believe?
by LaRae, Oct 19, 2006 12:00AM
Hello. I'd like a second opinion please. Familial dilated cardiomyopathy is in my family. My father was diagnosed at age 44 and died at age 47. My brother was diagnosed at age 33, received a heart transplant at age 35 and died at age 41. It is recommended all first degree relatives get echoes every 3 to 5 years. Four years ago my echo said my EF was 60%. I just recently had two echoes in one week and both said my EF was 45% and 47%, so my doctor sent me for a MUGA scan to be sure. The MUGA said my EF is 65%. My doctor said the MUGA will give an accurate EF compared to the echo. Do you believe this is true? Should I be comfortable with the MUGA results and not pursue any further tests at this time? I actually wore a holter monitor as well which didn't detect any dangerous arrhythmias or any other serious abnormalties. My doctor did increase the frequency of my echo screenings to annually. Also I do have a mild mitral valve prolapse with mild regurgitation, but aparently no need for medication. I've also been experiencing frequent PVCs and was told to cut out caffeine. Other than that my health is relatively good. No history of cardio vas desease, excellent colesterol, healthy weight all my life, regular mild/moderate exercise, don't smoke or drink, normal blood pressure... well my dad and my brother's general health was close to the same yet their first symptoms were heart failure secondary to end stage dilated cardiomyopathy. I want to avoid this. I would also like to know if you think I should have my teenagers get echoes. Thank you for your second opinion.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-Bbkj, Oct 19, 2006 12:00AM
larae,
thanks for the post.
I would really need to know more about your condition to make specific recommendations about you much less your teenagers getting echos. For some conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy screening younger patients may be indicated. However it sounds like the familial cardiomyopathy in your pedigree may have later onset so earlier screening wouldnt be all that helpful.
An echo is a bit more subjective then a PET scan for calculating ejection fraction since it relies solely on the physician interpreting the images. What might be helpful is to compare the images from this echo with the one that you had previously to comare if there is any difference. Otherwise I would go with the PET results and close followup.
good luck
thanks for the post.
I would really need to know more about your condition to make specific recommendations about you much less your teenagers getting echos. For some conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy screening younger patients may be indicated. However it sounds like the familial cardiomyopathy in your pedigree may have later onset so earlier screening wouldnt be all that helpful.
An echo is a bit more subjective then a PET scan for calculating ejection fraction since it relies solely on the physician interpreting the images. What might be helpful is to compare the images from this echo with the one that you had previously to comare if there is any difference. Otherwise I would go with the PET results and close followup.
good luck
