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Question:
Could echo results showing low EF and enlarged left ventricle be significant?
My partner had 2 echoes done within 45 days. One showed an EF of 25%, moderately enlarged left atrium (Left ventricle extremely enlarged on both); the other showed EF of 35%, normal right atrium size. Are these differences significant? Thank you.
submitted by Mary from Arizona on 9/25/2012
Answer:
by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Scott R. Sherron, MD
Several thoughts come to mind… First of all, echo has a +/- 5% in its ability to measure EF and therefore a "true" EF of 30% could measure 25% and subsequently 35% by random chance. In fact, EF is most commonly reported as 25-30% or 30-35% by most major echo centers. Also, depending on the cause of the cardiomyopathy (weak heart muscle), improvement in as short as 6 weeks is not unheard of and the change may be due to an actual improvement in heart muscle function. The enlargement in LV size is unfortunately not an encouraging finding. The reports of left atrial and right atrial sizes are less significant and can be related to technique and reporting style, especially if performed at different institutions. If severe heart failure symptoms are also present, a number of new and exciting protocols involving stem cells and gene therapy are under development at the Texas Heart Institute at St Luke's Episcopal Hospital and we would be happy to evaluate your partner for participation if she is interested. Best wishes.
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Updated October 2012
