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Updated: May 26, 2026
Histological Quantification of Chronic Myocardial Infarct in Rats
Published on: December 11, 2016
Echocardiographic predictors of ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction in rats
Marcos F Minicucci1, Paula S Azevedo, Daniel F B Santos
1Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Background:
The prediction of the ventricular remodeling process after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may have important clinical implications.
Objective:
To analyze echocardiographic variables predictors of remodeling in the infarction model in rats. MEHTODS: The animals underwent echocardiography in two moments, five days and three months after infarction (AMI group) or sham surgery (control group). Linear regression was used to identify the echocardiographic variables on the fifth day after the infarction, which were predictive of remodeling after three months of coronary occlusion. We considered as a criterion of remodeling in this study, the values of left ventricular diastolic diameter (LVDD) after three months of infarction.
Results:
The infarction induced increase in the left chambers, associated with changes in systolic and diastolic functions. The variables body weight, left ventricular wall stress index (LVWSI), systolic area (SA), diastolic area (DA), LVDD, left ventricular systolic diameter (LVSD), area variation fraction (AVF), ejection fraction (EF), percent of endocardial shortening (%Short), posterior wall shortening velocity (PWSV) and infarct size assessed five days after infarction were predictors of LVDD after three months. At the multivariate regression analysis, we included the size of infarction, the LVWSI and PWSV. The LVWSI (coefficient: 4.402, standard error: 2.221, p = 0.05), but not the size of infarction and PWSV, was a predictor of remodeling after three months of infarction.
Conclusion:
LVPSI was an independent predictor of remodeling three months after the myocardial infarction and could be included in the clinical stratification after the coronary occlusion.
Insights
Left ventricular wall stress index (LVWSI) predicts ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction. This finding aids in clinical risk stratification for patients post-coronary occlusion.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
- Animal Models
Background:
- Predicting ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is clinically significant.
- Ventricular remodeling impacts cardiac function post-MI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify echocardiographic predictors of ventricular remodeling in a rat model of myocardial infarction.
- To analyze variables that forecast left ventricular remodeling three months post-infarction.
Main Methods:
- Rats underwent echocardiography five days and three months after myocardial infarction or sham surgery.
- Linear regression identified echocardiographic predictors of remodeling on day five.
- Left ventricular diastolic diameter (LVDD) after three months defined remodeling.
Main Results:
- Echocardiography revealed chamber enlargement and altered systolic/diastolic function post-infarction.
- Multiple variables, including LVWSI, predicted LVDD at three months.
- Multivariate analysis confirmed LVWSI as an independent predictor of remodeling (p=0.05).
Conclusions:
- Left ventricular wall stress index (LVWSI) is an independent predictor of ventricular remodeling.
- LVWSI can be incorporated into clinical risk stratification following myocardial infarction.
