Do Infarcts Really Expand or Compact? Relationship Between Changing Material Properties and Apparent Infarct Remodeling

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity with over 600,000 new Americans suffering an MI each year [1]. Following infarction, damaged muscle is gradually replaced by collagenous scar tissue, while undamaged (remote) myocytes remodel due to altered load. Remodeling of both the infarcted and remote myocardium are important determinants of cardiac function and the risk of progression to heart failure.