| Popis: |
Acute myocardial infarction is one of the leading causes of death in the western world. Timely implementation of reperfusion therapy has resulted in increased survival and is currently the optimal treatment for acute MI. Death of cardiomyocytes following ischemia results in “danger signals” that elicit an inflammatory reaction that is crucial for removal of cell debris, wound healing, and generation of scar tissue. However, when the inflammatory response is excessive in duration and/or magnitude, it can result in exacerbated tissue damage and adverse remodeling contributing to the pathogenesis of heart failure. In order to successfully develop and implement inflammation modulating treatments that result in an optimal balance between healing, scar formation, and remodeling, visualization and characterization of the inflammatory response are crucial. Based on the imaging date, patient selection and precise targeting and timing of anti-inflammatory treatment can be realized. Various imaging techniques are under development and are being evaluated for this purpose. In this chapter we discuss the biology of post-MI inflammation and remodeling and relevant animal models and provide an overview of potentially promising imaging strategies. |
