Ischaemia of the left anterior descending artery - Heart Disorders Message Board

sporti · 06-03-2006, 08:05 AM

I have just got back from the cardiologist and the results of my scan are as follows:- 'There is a small area of inducible ischsaemia at the apex and this typically lies in the territory of the left anterior decscending artery. The extent and severity of the abnormaility is limited indicating only a relatively low likelyihood of future cardiac events'

To say im gutted is an understatement although my cardiologist didnt seem too concerned. I am armed with loads of tablets and just hope that someone out there has had this diagnosis and can let me know what im in for.

Thanks

Lenin · 06-03-2006, 08:37 AM

sporti,

Do you get chest pain during exercise or sudden stress?

Without pain, you are probably looking at tight cholesterol control to lower the risk of the plaque getting any larger (or indeed any of the OTHER...we always have several...getting big enough to interfere with good circulation.)

With pain, a probably next step would be catheter angiography to locate and angioplasty the lesion.

A good regimen of cardiac aerobics (high heart rate) is a good idea to stimulate the formation collateral circulation in the area that is undersuppplied by the affected artery.

The good news are thhe words like "small" "limited" and "low likelihood" all indicate that no further intervention is needed in the near future....but it should certainly put you on high alert.

How are your blood lipid numbers? Did your cardio man recommend any drugs? Gosh, and you were trying to get off atenolol...angina is one of things it's good for, symptomatically anyway.

sporti · 06-03-2006, 02:23 PM

Hi Lenin

Thanks so much for your informative reply. I wouldnt call it a pain but i get a pressure in the middle of my chest when i walk vigorously. If i carry on walking i get more breathless and the pressure is greater. As soon as i stop it subsides immediately. I have been put on atorvastatin 10mg as my cholestrol is 6. Im staying on atenolol 25 mg (i used to be on 50mg obviously this dosage disguised my problem) and im on calcium channel blocker 5mg beginning with the letter 'A' - something like ampodipine and will be starting indapamide 1.5mg shortly. What do you mean by any of the other? My scan just showed the one small area i thought?? Im not sure what my blood lipids are? i presume my nephrologist has that under control BUT then im wondering now ..... as he never told me i had high cholesterol. I feel very desolate at the moment cos i had (heres my sob story) ovarian cancer in 2002/2003, kidney disease all my life - 28% function right now (not bad for 52 years i spose) and now this. Obviously someone doesnt like me up there!
Thanks again for your input and i hope someone else comes along and gives me more input. Thanks

heartcreature · 06-03-2006, 08:52 PM

I would probably want to go ahead with a catherization. Knowing where the blockage is in the LAD is important. Mine was at the top (a dangerous area to have a blockage). I'm not sure where the apex is, but I know that nuclear scans don't always show everything especially in women.

sporti · 06-04-2006, 12:48 PM

Hi Heartcreature

Thanks for your reply. All i can say is that a Professor of Cardiology read my scans and made the the conclusion that i wrote out and my cardiologist on the basis of that, and other things, has told me that at this stage invasive surgery is not necessary. I have to see him again in 3 months time for evalution of the medication i am on. The apex is at the top. How did your cardiologist describe your problem?