Can LVH be diagnosed by a ECG

[Craig-D]

I was diagnosed with PAF, five years ago with only five episodes that lasted up to 6 hours, I had an echocardiogram in May that showed everything was normal but my latest in ECG IN December showed a tall Q wave suggested of LVH. Is it possible for echocardiogram to say one thing and an ECG to say another, my GP has started me on 1.25mg ramiprill.

[Blearyeyed]

Yes , it is possible for an ECG to show electrical activity that suggests LVH even if you have a normal Echo on the same day. An ECG could even pick up LVH type readings even if you aren't experiencing any symptoms yet. It's why LVH is sometimes called a Silent Condition.This is because LVH develops very gradually over time , and so you could be diagnosed with LVH from an ECG before it has begun to show any signs of thickening on the Echo.

Often , if the two sets are done together the Echo is given more importance in treatment choices and diagnosis.

Although more recently researcher's have begun to consider whether LVH picked up on an Echo and that found on an ECG could have very distinct characteristics, and even better two separate entities, although this still requires further research and the treatment would be the same.

The positive for you is that your GP has spotted early signs of LVH and begun treatment before it has caused noticeable damage or thickening to your heart muscle.

Is your GP going to send you for another Echo or any other tests?

[Craig-D in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thanks for the reply, I’m going to request another Echo, at the moment I don’t have any systems and I am only on what he described as a maintenance dose of ramiprill, I’ve had another blood test to see the effect of the meds and that showed a higher than normal potassium level so I need to discuss that with them as well.

[Blearyeyed in reply to Craig-D]

Have you kept a Diet Diary to see if you need to reduce some of the foods you eat that are high in potassium, or stopped multivitamin or electrolyte based drinks which can also cause this on certain medications. You are recommended to reduce dietary and supplemental potassium on ramipril .

[Craig-D in reply to Blearyeyed]

I will do, I don’t take multi vitamins anyway, my potassium levels were ok in December but are raised two weeks after taking ramipill