Postinfarction cardiosclerosis. How to treat?

Postinfarction cardiosclerosis is a pathological process, which is based on damage to cardiomyocytes and their replacement by connective tissue in the outcome of myocardial infarction.

In most cases, this pathology develops after a previous myocardial infarction. Violations of the normal operation of the heart muscle, irregular delivery of blood, and hence oxygen, to the heart provokes the development of myocardial infarction. Chronic oxygen starvation of cardiomyocytes is most often caused by an atherosclerotic process of coronary vessels.

Myocardial infarction is necrosis (necrosis) of sites of different localization of the heart muscle. The integrity of it is restored by growing on the damaged sections of connective tissue. However, this tissue can not contract, which leads to a violation of cardiac activity: there is a reduction in the ejection fraction, a violation of cardiac conduction and rhythm, and heart sounds become deaf.

Postinfarction cardiosclerosis is characterized by focal damage to the heart muscle - one or more sites that have clear boundaries are replaced by a connective tissue.

Clinically, this pathology is manifested by dilated (enlarged) chambers of the heart, hypertrophy (thickening) of the heart muscle. If there was cardiosclerosis, the symptoms for him are characterized by the following: inability to perform physical exertion, as well as increased fatigue, tachycardia, dyspnea, pain in the heart, edema (for the first time edema appears on the lower extremities). A frequent symptom is also hypertension, which is much higher than normal. Postinfarction cardiosclerosis is sometimes detected due to the appearance of pronounced cardiac failure. A frequent complication of this disease is poor permeability of the vessels, which reduces the delivery of oxygen to the organs, as well as to the heart muscle itself.

Treatment of cardiosclerosis should begin immediately, as soon as possible. At the present stage, various methods are used. To stimulate the work of the heart, the rhythm of its reduction, the effect on the metabolism of cardiomyocytes, medicamental therapy is carried out. Medicines increase the contractility of intact parts of the myocardium.

Reducing excess body weight helps reduce the burden on the heart. If excess weight is caused by edematous fluid, then it is necessary to take diuretics, which will reduce swelling, and, accordingly, body weight.

Postinfarction cardiosclerosis very rarely requires surgical intervention: only with significant violations of the heart rhythm or damage to the coronary vessels. Such patients undergo stent placement in order to widen the lumen of the vessels. Aortocoronary shunting is possible.

Myocardium and vessels can regenerate in a small volume and without surgery.

Effectively and finally get rid of postinfarction cardiosclerosis will help stem cells. Stem cells promote the regeneration of tissues and heart, and vessels, and other organs and tissues. Transplantation of these cells is carried out on an outpatient basis in clinic hospitals. With the flow of blood, they reach the myocardium, where they attach themselves to healthy areas. Then the stem cells displace the fibroblasts that form the scars, and differentiate into cardiomyoblasts. Thus, myocardial regeneration takes place within 9-12 months. Positive dynamics of treatment of postinfarction cardiosclerosis is noted both in patients and in confirmed clinical studies.