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Updated: May 12, 2026

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Macerated Tissue to Visualize the Extracellular Matrix
Published on: June 14, 2016
Determining the role of fibrosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Christian Prinz1, Martin Farr, Kai Thorsten Laser
1Department of Cardiology, Heart and Diabetes Centre North-Rhine Westphalia, Ruhr University Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany.
Abstract:
Fibroblast activity within the heart may be considered a basically constructive process. Hyperactivity of fibroblasts, however, may result in the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins with adverse effects on cardiac structure and function including electrical instability and increased risk of arrhythmogenic cardiac death. The detection of cardiac fibrosis by dedicated imaging techniques, mainly gadolinium-enhanced MRI, holds promise to refine patient management in a variety of cardiac conditions. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge regarding fibrosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
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