cardiac MRI query

[Badger15]

my son just had result of cardiac mri scan following diagnosis of heart failure with EF below 35. The consultant letter says that it was “not possible to do a stress test at the time of the exam” and requests a CT scan to try to identify underlying cause of HF. Can anyone explain what a stress test does and possible reasons why it wasn’t possible to carry it out? The diagnosis so far is cardiomyopathy linked to virus or hereditary issue (no heart problems in family history). No problems with heart valves identified.

[Hidden]

hello from my own experience a stress MRI involves injecting specific medication that makes the heart work harder while your lying down in machine to see how the heart works and to see if any issues in how it functions.

Mine was with adenosine.

I’m asthmatic and they kept checking and asking themselves if should be done and they had to get the on duty cardiologist to agree it go ahead. They don’t like giving adenosine to an asthmatic I think. But I was ok. I’ve had it twice before - makes me feel like mild heart attack symptoms though but I recover once they stop injecting it.

It’s difficult to say in your son’s case why they didn’t do the stress bit, hopefully you can contact them and ask why.

Good luck! It’s always (unnecessarily) worrying when there is a lack of explanation.

👍

[Badger15 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your reply. He has an appointment to see the HF team and just needed more info on the relevance of the stress test. It’s a very worrying time but it’s really helpful having this group to ask questions.

[Hidden in reply to Badger15]

Totally appreciate the worry you’re experiencing, this group is good for sharing experiences / support! 👍

[roughquest in reply to Hidden]

I know they have to have a Doctor present during the stress test, could be as simple as that. Mine took over an hour and as Unscrambled says isn’t the most pleasant thing in the world.

[crhyswilliams]

Hi. I was diagnosed with a form of cardiomyopathy last year and underwent a stress test during my time in hospital. They basically had me wired up with the usual leads on a running machine until I couldn't go any faster!

[Badger15 in reply to crhyswilliams]

Thanks for your response.

[wischo]

An MRI stress test as mentioned involves injecting a drug which fools your heart into thinking it is working hard, and with this information they can see exactly what is going on inside the heart and circulatary system. A standard stress test is just a basic test on a treadmill which can show very little info depending on the response of the patient. Its the best possible test they can do to check the whole cardiac system and should give them a better insight as to whats the best treatment if required.

[Badger15 in reply to wischo]

Thanks for that - we need to ask about doing the cardiac MRI again with stress test!

[CRTD]

They couldn’t do the MRI stress test on me either, no blocked arteries, no history of heart issues and eventually decided it was cardiomyopathy resulting from a virus which led to heart failure with EF of low 20s. Since then I’ve had a CRT D fitted and on usual cocktail of drugs including Entresto and now EF in 40s and heart has remodelled. The younger you are the more likely it is to remodel in these circumstances.

[Badger15 in reply to CRTD]

Do you know why they couldn’t do the cardiac MRI stress test - my son is the same with no history of heart issues, no family heart problems and they’ve also diagnosed cardiomyopathy which still doesn’t answer why. What is a CRT D - my son on the cocktail of drugs known as the 4 pillars.

[CRTD]

A CRT d is a cardiac resynchronisation device and defibrillator. It makes the two lower chambers of the heart beat in synchronised way which mine wasn’t. The defib restarts the heart of it stops or goes into a dangerous rhythm . It’s fitted under the skin near left shoulder and has 3 internal leads into the heart .

I’m sure your son will be receiving the best treatment. I couldn’t have the stress MRI as when they started monitoring me after injecting the dye I went into a total panic and they said I had a whole body response which was too dangerous to try again. Now I have the CRT do can’t have MRI as leads are not compatible

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[Badger15]

thanks for your feedback - very helpful 👍