what test is the most accurate for HF

[NLGA]

I have had a echo which showed mild MR only really and the cardiologist was happy with it but my blood BNP test was 485

I do have none persistent AF so maybe on that day of the test I was in AF ( I don’t know )

What test can be judged the most accurate in members view

[Yumz199725]

I would say an echo but maybe a cardiac MRI would be able to show it in more detail.

[NLGA in reply to Yumz199725]

thank you

I haven’t been offered one of them only the echo which was ok then a bNP which was high 485 so it’s kind of confused me

[andrea_waffle7 in reply to NLGA]

when I was offered an MRI my BNP was over 900 and I had many symptoms so I wonder if they consider your BNP not a big concern? My BNP has now started to come down and when I reached 400 my cardiologist was pleased, with medication it has continued to come down. Good luck

[NLGA in reply to andrea_waffle7]

that’s interesting Andrea thanks for sharing that

When I google BNP it seems to be important in the diagnosis how did you reduce it was it solely medication?

Do you have AF as I trying to see if there is a link between AF and BNP scores

I’m at 485 up from 180 so a bit down in the dumps

[andrea_waffle7]

yes purely medication the main one that seemed to do the trick is Dapaglozin, I have had an ablation many years ago that work well but they said medication this time round.

[Beardie100]

You need the echo to see exactly what is going on and get the correct diagnosis and treatment.

[Lcfc85 in reply to Beardie100]

I was told an echo isn’t 100% accurate either

[NLGA in reply to Beardie100]

had one now there sending me for a different test as that was ok which makes me wonder about the echo as that they were happy that it didn’t show HF

[Beardie100]

Medicine is rarely 100% accurate. It is good enough for me.

[Ads568]

Hello NLGA,

I believe BNP is a pretty accurate indicator of how much the heart is struggling. With heart failure, how the patient is feeling is relied on heavily to drive treatment, along with many other considerations.

I think Cardiac MRI would be the ultimate test, but not necessary at this stage I guess. If the cardiologist felt you needed more tests, I assume he’d have requested them.

As long as you’ve been open & honest with your consultant about how your condition affects you & your day to day life (or not), I’d take his word for it that all is ok.

Best wishes

[NLGA in reply to Ads568]

my bNP was 2350 in hospital with AF it’s currently 484 so I believe AF can give strange reading

[Fred1954]

I had what was referred to as a special echo where they inject a substance that enhances the contrast and helped with my diagnosis of HF. Next best thing to MRI which would have been trickier with my pacemaker now.