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Question:

Is there any specific protocol to repeating echoes and/or cardiac MRI's if normal results occur when first done?

Is there any specific protocol to repeating echoes and/or cardiac MRI's if normal results occur first time these tests are done? Second question, are rhythm disorders like Long QT, Brugada Syndrome congenital and do they most often manifest when one is a teenager or young adult?

submitted by Richard from Pennsylvania on 12/11/2013

Answer:

by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Paolo Angelini, MD    

Question #1: Answer: It all depends on the diagnosis. Some conditions evolve, and some evolve quicker than others, warranting repeat studies. Sometimes we do echocardiography to rule out a condition, and once is enough (such as for congenital conditions). 

Question #2: Answer: The conditions you mention are not arrhythmias, but predisposing conditions to arrhythmias. They are all congenital, but variable in expression (occurrence), from very young to very old ages.

See also on this site:  

• Arrhythmia 
  
• Echocardiography 
• Heart Information Center  

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Updated December 2013