Analysis of the late left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction

The purpose of this study was to quantify the changes in left ventricular geometry occurring late after myocardial infarction and to determine which parameters were the most sensitive to detect remodeling of the left ventricle. Angiograms obtained in 23 patients at baseline (one to two months after the acute episode) and three months later after placebo or xamoterol therapy were analyzed frame by frame. The data indicate that quantitative wall motion analysis may detect significant changes in myocardial adaptation that are masked when global indices such as volumes or ejection fraction are used. Quantitative analysis of the ventricular remodeling may, therefore, be important to appreciate correctly the functional impact of therapeutic interventions such as thrombolysis.