Myocardial Remodelling after Myocardial Infarction

This chapter focuses on myocardial remodelling, a process that affects the heart’s shape, structure, and function, following myocardial injury (MI). Post-MI remodelling can be divided into three phases, with the first phase 0–72 hours beginning at the time of ischaemic injury, the second phase 72 hours to 6 weeks, and the third and last phase 6 weeks and beyond. During post-infarction remodelling, hypertrophy is an adaptive response that compensates for the increased load, reduces the effect of progressive dilatation, and balances contractile function. The chapter discusses the factors involved in ventricular remodelling and its association with heart failure progression. The effects of therapies designed to prevent or attenuate post-infarction left ventricular remodelling, with reference to the pathophysiological mechanisms involved, are then considered. Therapies specifically discussed include angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), β‎-adrenoreceptor blockers, and aldosterone receptor antagonists.