BACKGROUND: To define the beneficial cellular changes that occur with chronic ventricular unloading, we determined the effect of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement on myocardial fibrosis. METHODS: We obtained paired myocardial samples (before and after LVAD implantation) from 10 patients (aged 43 to 64 years) with end-stage cardiomyopathy. We first determined regional collagen expression of an explanted heart by a computerized semiquantitative analysis of positive picro-sirius red stained areas. RESULTS: We found that there was no statistically significant difference in collagen content between regions of the failed heart studied. Next we determined collagen content in these paired myocardial biopsies pre- and post-LVAD implantation. All 10 patients had significant reductions in collagen content after LVAD placement with a mean reduction of 82% (percent of tissue area stained decreased from 32% +/- 4% to 4% +/- 0.8%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In summary, these data demonstrate that chronic mechanical circulatory support significantly reduces fibrosis in the failing myocardium.
BACKGROUND: To define the beneficial cellular changes that occur with chronic ventricular unloading, we determined the effect of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement on myocardial fibrosis. METHODS: We obtained paired myocardial samples (before and after LVAD implantation) from 10 patients (aged 43 to 64 years) with end-stage cardiomyopathy. We first determined regional collagen expression of an explanted heart by a computerized semiquantitative analysis of positive picro-sirius red stained areas. RESULTS: We found that there was no statistically significant difference in collagen content between regions of the failed heart studied. Next we determined collagen content in these paired myocardial biopsies pre- and post-LVAD implantation. All 10 patients had significant reductions in collagen content after LVAD placement with a mean reduction of 82% (percent of tissue area stained decreased from 32% +/- 4% to 4% +/- 0.8%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In summary, these data demonstrate that chronic mechanical circulatory support significantly reduces fibrosis in the failing myocardium.
Authors: Mihir Parikh; Saumya Shah; Ratnadeep Basu; Konrad S Famulski; Daniel Kim; John C Mullen; Philip F Halloran; Gavin Y Oudit Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2022-02-12 Impact factor: 5.923
Authors: Joann Trial; Katarzyna A Cieslik; Sandra B Haudek; Clemens Duerrschmid; Mark L Entman Journal: Front Immunol Date: 2013-09-18 Impact factor: 7.561