Fig. 7

Illustration to demonstrate changes in tissue composition post-acute reperfused myocardial infarction. The infarcted myocardial segments demonstrate reduction in overall ECV on follow-up as the damaged myocytes recover function even in the presence of scar. This leads to some function improvement in these infarcted segments. The oedema segments demonstrate significant reduction in ECV as the water content of extracellular matrix falls. Oedema segments also demonstrate significant improvement in function. The normal segments undergo physiological adaptation with involves increase in extracellular volume. This is likely to be the result of overall left ventricular remodelling