Don't understand echo/Muga results

[Chance63]

I had both echo and Muga. Muga states Ejection Fraction is 38 percent, I realize that's low. On the echo, almost everything except my blood pressure (I am hypertensive) is normal. For left ventricular size and moderate global systolic dysfunction , concentric left ventricular remodeling are the only major things for left ventricle. Aora, right atrium, atrial septum, right ventricular, says normal and normal systolic function.Pulmonary Artery normal pericardium normal no effusion,Blood pressure was 150/99mm/HG. systolic usually higher. LEVe end-systolic 25 mm, Poster wall 9mm, LV Mass Index 60gm/meter squared. left atrium 33mm
AV peak velocity 153 cm/sec, Mitral E annulus 58/0Rv-EDD 39,,Tapes 19mm. The only thing that looks wrong is my Ejection Fraction (35-40) moderate global systolic dysfunction, concentric left ventricular remodeling. Abnormal insertion of ahigh septal papillary muscle in some view. All the MUGA says is EF: 38 , Upper normal LV size with moderate global hypokinesis. The doctor put me on Diovan which has brought my BP into normal range.

So do I just have hypertension? Do the things on the echo not matter because the MUGA doesn't list them (Concentric remodeling is not on MUGA). I just don't understand with so many things normal it just seems like I just have hypertension. I am 49.


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[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Understand your predicament. Cardiomyopathy is a disease that weakens and enlarges the heart muscle. There are three main types of cardiomyopathy; dilated, hypertrophic and restrictive. The hypertrophic one occurs with hypertension as the heart has to pump against increased resistance. This in turn reflects the concentric hypertrophy, global hypokinesia and the decreased ejection fraction in the imaging studies.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[Chance63]

Thank you.
I have noticed that after 1 month of Diovan, my systolic has dropped, but my diastolic does not budge. It has always been 90-91. I understand that my dosage may double and have a stronger effect. What I don't understand is that in 2004 a cardiologist told me I had congestive cardiomyopathy. I lost weight, stopped drinking, left stressful job, and as he predicted, most things were reversible. He had used 2 stress tests and an MRI, but that was back in 2004. I seem to have "cardiomyopathy" listed as an indication, but all I have been told now is hypertension. I also wonder why the echo states "moderate globall hypokinesis" and the the echo said "global systolic dysfunction". Yet my systolic pressure is responding to the Diovan and the diastolic is not. Also, the echo mentions "moderate concentric remodeling" . Is this reversible as well?

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Both the ECHO and MUGA scan show a reduced ejection fraction. The ejection fraction is a useful measure of left ventricular performance. The normal range is 63-77% for males and 55-75% for females. It reflects the pumping capacity of the heart.

Treatment for low ejection fraction is focused on reducing symptoms and preventing the progress of the disease involved from worsening. Hypertension can cause left ventricular hypertrophy and sometimes diastolic dysfunction and consequent low ejection fraction. Discuss this with your consulting doctor.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.