Etymed
myocardial fibrosis
Definition
scarring and hardening of heart muscle tissue due to fibrous connective tissue deposition
Clinical context
A 65-year-old man presents with progressive dyspnea and fatigue over several months. Echocardiogram reveals reduced left ventricular ejection fraction with areas of hypokinesis. Cardiac MRI shows extensive scarring in the anterior wall. His symptoms are attributed to extensive myocardial fibrosis following a previous myocardial infarction. The fibrotic tissue replaces functional myocardial tissue, leading to impaired contraction and heart failure.
Mnemonic
Myocardial fibrosis = Myocardial Fixation - the heart becomes fixed and inflexible due to fibrous scarring