When a patient experiences a myocardial infarction (MI) or heart attack, the detection and repair of damaged cardiac cells is priority. A recent study led by Albert J. Sinusas, MD, and clinical fellow Ricardo Avendaño, MD, identifies a novel therapeutic approach for left ventricular (LV) remodeling that uses injectable hydrogels to prevent heart failure, a progressive condition in which the weakened heart muscle can’t pump blood properly. This is one of the first studies to show improvements in hemodynamic function following acute intramyocardial hydrogel delivery with a multimodality imaging approach. The intramyocardial delivery of hydrogels early post-MI improved regional and global function, prevented early increases in LV diastolic volumes, and improved indices of myocardial performance. Further evaluation is needed to understand the long-term success of this approach, the researchers say.
Avendaño R, Midgett D, Melvinsdottir I, Thorn SL, Uman S, Pickell Z, Lee SR, Liu Z, Mamarian M, Duncan JS, Spinale F, Burdick JA, Sinusas AJ. Improvement in Cardiac Function and Regional LV Strain Following Intramyocardial Injection of a Hydrogel Early Post Myocardial Infarction in a Porcine Model. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2023 Jun 15. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00342.2022. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37318987.
Discoveries & Impact highlights select scientific discoveries across the Department of Internal Medicine. To read more about the recently released research, click on a link under Related Links.