Strain Mapping of LV Myocardium and its Correlation With Activation of Apoptotic Molecular Pathways Post Infarction

The American Heart Association reported that in 2004 alone, myocardial infarction (MI) related mortality rate was as high as 38% among the 1.2 million reported MI cases [1]. After an MI, the self-repair capability of the infarcted heart is limited. As a result, the heart undergoes a remodeling process, characterized by progressive weakening of contractile function. It is believed that increased left ventricular (LV) loading to survival myocytes post-MI activates the apoptotic pathways in the cells, leading to progressive loss of cardiomyocytes.