Ask a Texas Heart Institute Doctor
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Question:
What can cause left atrial dilatation? Last year I was diagnosed with primary LVH (my blood pressure and weight are normal), MVP and tricuspid regurgitation. I have been taking an ACE inhibitor with the goal of shrinking heart muscle walls. With last echo, the walls have shrunk from 1.5 to .8 but the left atrium expanded from 3.6 to 4.8. Does the atrium get larger (like a blown-out balloon) if heart walls shrink back to normal?
submitted by Tina, from Los Angeles, California, 1/22/09
Answer:
by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Reynolds Delgado, MD 
Thank you for your question. Left atrial dilatation is caused by high pressures in the heart. It can take a long time to resolve. I think you are doing the right thing by keeping your blood pressure low and taking your medicines. Just give it time.
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Updated January 2009
