re re sons ekg and echo

[alana820]

abnormal ekg after having bad chest pain then echo showed heart slightly enlarged and ejection fraction on the low side, he had a stress echo yesterday and the cardiologist told us that his heart is not SQUEEZING properly and does not react to excercise the way it should , he then made an appointment with a pediatric cardiologist (son just turned 18) next week but warned me that this dr may just adopt a wait and see attitude as they are convinced the problems are being caused by a viral infection, he has pericarditis and myocarditis now, I don't know the exact #'s yet
Any suggestions on what can be done would be very welcome
I dont want to wait and see whatever is going on has already damaged his heart and I don't want it to get any worse
Please reply

[Kathy C]

Is he being treated for the Pericarditis and Myocarditis?

[alana820]

No he is not being treated for them, as far as I understood the cardiologist yesterday he said that with a viral infection there really is not a treatment but I think he is holding off making a decision until he sees the pediatric Dr next week, What treatment is there for pericarditis and myocard?
thank you for replying We don't know what to do and appreciate any advice we can get

[rigel434]

I think that's actually pretty good news- the fact that pericarditis may be causing his problems means that this may all go away. Certainly better than if he had coronary artery disease at age 18. Keep an eye on the condition, though- they can drain the fluid around the heart if it gets too bad.

If it doesn't get better consider seeing a rheumatologist since certain auto-immune conditions can cause pericarditis.

[alana820]

just got the written stress echo report and it stated that his ejection fraction is 40% "immediate post excercise echocardiographic images revealed that at most there was probably a 5% increase in the ejection fraction at peak excercise" The increase in ejection fraction is not normal and the resting ej is not normal.

What does all this mean? It also noted an above average excercise tolerance If it is viral will the ejection fraction go back to normal?