The relevance of microRNA in post-infarction left ventricular remodelling and heart failure

Abstract

Myocardial infarction and post-infarction left ventricular remodelling involve a high risk of morbidity and mortality. For this reason, ongoing research is being conducted in order to learn the mechanisms of unfavourable left ventricular remodelling following a myocardial infarction. New biomarkers are also being sought that would allow for early identification of patients with a high risk of post-infarction remodelling and dysfunction of the left ventricle. In recent years, there has been ever more experimental data that confirms the significance of microRNA in cardiovascular diseases. It has been confirmed that microRNAs are stable in systemic circulation, and can be directly measured in patients’ blood. It has been found that significant changes occur in the concentrations of various types of microRNA in myocardial infarction and heart failure patients. Various types of microRNA are also currently being intensively researched in terms of their usefulness as markers of cardiomyocyte necrosis, and predictors of the post-infarction heart failure development. This paper is a summary of the current knowledge on the significance of microRNA in post-infarction left ventricular remodelling and heart failure.