Coronary microvascular rarefaction and myocardial fibrosis in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Characterization of myocardial structural changes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has been hindered by the limited availability of human cardiac tissue. Cardiac hypertrophy, coronary artery disease (CAD), coronary microvascular rarefaction, and myocardial fibrosis may contribute to HFpEF pathophysiology.

Methods and results

We identified HFpEF patients (n=124) and age-appropriate control subjects (noncardiac death, no heart failure diagnosis; n=104) who underwent autopsy. Heart weight and CAD severity were obtained from the autopsy reports. With the use of whole-field digital microscopy and automated analysis algorithms in full-thickness left ventricular sections, microvascular density (MVD), myocardial fibrosis, and their relationship we

SUBMITTER: Mohammed SF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4324362 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature