marginal concentric left ventricular hypertrophy

[hankstar]

   I recently visited a cardiologist in Miami, Florida after

having severe intermittent chest pain over the past couple of

years. I also suffer from pac's and pvc's and bouts of fast heartrate. I had a stress test and holter monitor done in 1987,

everthing was completely normal and was assured not worry.

  After having a severe bout of pvc's/pac's in 1998, my doctor

put me on atenolol 25mg twice daily which I must admit controlled

the palpitations so well I almost feel cured.

  I don't suffer the side effects of most beta blockers for which

I am grateful, mostly only nightmares. I decided to visit a cardiologist after suffering from severe attacks of chest pain,

which my doctor diagnosed as costachondritis.

  The cardiologist did an EKG and an echocardiogram after I told

him of my symtoms. He said my symtoms were not anginal and that

my ekg and echo were normal besides showing marginal concentric

left ventricular hypertrophy which was probably due to mild hpertension, usually 140/90 in the dr. office and 120/75 at home.

  I visited my internist who visits where i live every 4 months

and gave a copy my report from the cardiologist. He did an ekg

and said it showed no signs of hypertrophy and my report was

essentially normal.

   The only other thing that was mentioned in the report was that I had

no frank mitral valve prolapse, but that there was a redundant

pattern of motion of the mitral leaflets.

  My question to you, do you think the hpertrophy that I have is of any

clinical signifance or if i should get an repeat echo in another

year and do you thinks the redundant motion of the mitral leaflets could suggest a mild mitral valve prolapse as i do present with most of its symptoms.

  Thanks for taking my question and i apologise for length and

detail, also a great thanks for this beautiful forum

  Thanks again,

     Hank.

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear Hankstar,



Always glad to hear from a 'regular reader' of this forum.  A key to understanding test results is to look for certain words in the report.  Words like "significant and severe" are "action words", which means something needs to be done.  Words like "trivial, marginal, or trace" are "inaction words", Which means things are not exactly normal but nothing needs to be done.  I think it does mean that you probably do have some mild hypertension and that the atenolol is a good idea not only from the palpitation standpoint but also from the blood pressure standpoint.  The redundant mitral leaflets would also fall into the "inaction column".  If you were my patient I would probably wait a few (2-3) years before repeating an echo.  In the meantime I would encourage you to continue a healthy diet and lifestyle and follow your blood pressure closely.  Best wishes.