Quantitative echocardiography in left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction.

Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography has been used to study patients during and after myocardial infarction. Quantitative studies have revealed that progressive increase in left ventricular size is associated with a poor prognosis. When pre-defined echocardiographic criteria were used to stratify infarction patients for adverse cardiovascular outcome, the efficacy of combined thrombolysis and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy could be shown in those who developed left ventricular enlargement. Other descriptors of left ventricular architecture and function, such as cavity shape and the ratio of short-axis left ventricular muscle to cavity area, may predict cardiovascular death and severe heart failure.