LVef = 35% and LA shows DilatedHi I am 34 Year old , I had an Acute

[singhamit]

Hi I am 34 Year old , I had an Acute inferior MI on May - 4 at around 8.00 pm last and there was complete blockage in RCA, on 5th May 2007 around 1.00 am my Echo was done and my ECHO showed LVEF = 35% with LA Dilated, I later got a stent implanted in my RCA. I want to know if this LVEF = 35% and LA dilated was due to MI and if LVEF is improved after stent is implanted or if any way by which it can be improved. Please respond immediatly as it is giving me lot of tension  

[kenkeith]

More information is needed to help you understand what is medically involved with your concerns.  What test determined your EF is 38%?  What are you symptoms, if any? Have had heart cell damage due to ischemia (low blood flow to the heart cells usually due vessdel blockage)? Have had a heart attack?

An LVEF of 38% is below normal but with medication and your system compensates well for the under performing heart one can due well with a weaker than normal heart.

Thanks for your question, and if you have any further questions or comments you are welcome to respond.  take care,

Ken

[gunjan2203]

PLEASE HELP ME OUT..IAM 55YR OLD AND I HAVE HAD STENT IMPLANTATION TWO TIME AROUND 3-4 YRS AGO..AND NOW MY LVEF IS 38%..IS THERE ANYTHING TO WORRY?? IAM CONSTANTLY ON MEDICATION FOR PAST 3-4 YRS..PLEASE TELL ME SMTHNG AS IAM REALLY TENSED.

[kenkeith]

The test recognizes heart muscle damage (old), but your exercise tolerance is good and EF is not problematic but expected from past MI.

If you don't have any symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue,etc..it appears you are doing quite well.

[singhamit]

Hi Thanks for prompt reply
I recently got stress thallium done results of whiich are as below
Perfusion : Severe stress defect over mid basal inferior wall , not showing any significant reperfusion in rest images , anterior, septal and lateral walls appear well perfused at peak stress. LVEF at rest ef~42+-5%  with sever hypokenis of inferior wall.
In treadmill I was able to exercise for 10.30 minutes with THR 97%

Cardiac specialist who did stent implant says that test only reflects old MI and my test is otherwise okay and I should not worry about anything else , please advice or do I need to take more opinion

[kenkeith]

There are distinquishing factors that can be the underlying problem for prognosis.

If you have had substantial myocardial cell damage due to an MI, there can't be much change in the EF as necrosis of heart muscle cells permanently impairs left ventricle contractions reducing carediac output.

Usually with blocked coronary arteries the lack of blood flow causes the heart to overwork and the left Ventricle enlarges to help supply more blood in compensation for the lack of blood flow from the blockage.  An enlarged LV could/will reduce contractility and decrease EF.  But treatment (stent implant, meds) can reduce the heart's workload and reverse the dilation of the LV thereby increasing EF.

LA dilated has a somewhat different pathology but some conditions dilate both chambers such as too much blood volume in the heart, narrowed valves in the heart (mitral valve), increased heart pressures, increased heart stiffness, primary myocardial diseases or myopathies.