Ejection rate of between 45 and 55%

[jess9206]

Hello,

I am a 36 year old mom of a three year old and a four month old. Before I became pregnant with my second child I had an echocardiogram as a result of a follow-up when I mentioned to my primary doctor that I sometimes had a little heaviness in my chest. The echo showed two things, one was a very mild case of mitral valve prolapse which my mom also has, however the other thing was this low-normal ejection rate. I went back again during my pregnancy and this time it was normal. However I just went back again postpartum and again it is back to the low normal ejection rate, between 5-10% below normal is what they tell me. My blood pressure is also low and always has been, at the last visit it was 86/52. My cardiologist is suggesting an MRI to find out what could be the cause of this lower than normal ejection rate. I am a non-smoker, exercise on most days, healthy weight and have a low salt diet. Does this lower than normal ejection rate mean heart failure? Does it mean that it will get progressively worse no matter what I do? Do you have any helpful information for someone my age? I am very concerned that this will impair my ability to live a full life to normal life expectancy.

Thank you for any helpful information you may have

[Douglas Bogart, MD]

Sometimes in a young person the echo ejection fraction appears lower than it really is.  Having another test would be key and the MR is a good idea.  Your heart may well be normal.  Just get a confirmatory test.

[jess9206]

I have a very mild carditis induced cardiomyopathy. I really don't have any symptoms, other than a little over a year ago I had a little heaviness feeling in my chest. I had an echo and an MRI, the cardiologist said that essentially I have a little scar tissue on the bottom of the heart muscle which has caused my global ejection rate to be between 45 and 50. Essentially she feels it is not anything to be overly concerned about and feels that I can just go on to lead a normal life without any impact on duration or quality. My blood pressure is low and always has been. I did not find out which specific cardiomyopathy it is and wondered if you would be able to suggest which you thought it could be? Everything else in my heart looks to be normal.

Thank you
Jessica

My echo did say:
Normal LV size with low normal systolic function. Mild lateral wall hypokinesis.