Heart Failure After Myocardial Infarction: Clinical Implications and Treatment

• Published in: Clinical cardiology (Mahwah, N.J.) N.J.), 2011-07, Vol.34 (7), p.410-414
• Main Authors: Minicucci, Marcos F., Azevedo, Paula S., Polegato, Bertha F., Paiva, Sergio A.R., Zornoff, Leonardo A. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular Agents - therapeutic use; Coronary heart disease; Heart; Heart Failure - etiology; Heart Failure - pathology; Heart Failure - physiopathology; Heart Failure - therapy; Heart failure, cardiogenic pulmonary edema, cardiac enlargement; Humans; Medical sciences; Myocardial Infarction - complications; Myocardial Infarction - pathology; Myocardial Infarction - physiopathology; Myocardial Infarction - therapy; Myocarditis. Cardiomyopathies; Review; Reviews; Stem Cell Transplantation; Treatment Outcome; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left - etiology; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left - pathology; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left - physiopathology; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left - therapy
• ISSN: 0160-9289; 1932-8737
• DOI: 10.1002/clc.20922

Heart failure is a frequent complication of myocardial infarction. Several factors, such as recurrent myocardial ischemia, infarct size, ventricular remodeling, stunned myocardium, mechanical complications, and hibernating myocardium influence the appearance of left ventricular systolic dysfunction after myocardial infarction. Importantly, its presence increases the risk of death by at least 3‐ to 4‐fold. The knowledge of the mechanisms and clinical features are essential for the diagnosis and treatment of left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure after myocardial infarction. Therefore, this review will focus on the clinical implications and treatment of heart failure after myocardial infarction. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.