How important is it to assess and attempt to control cardiac fibrosis in hypertension?

Abstract

Fibrous tissue accumulation is an integral feature of the adverse structural remodeling of myocardial tissue following a cardiac insult. Given the importance of fibrous tissue in leading to myocardial dysfunction and failure, noninvasive assessment of fibrosis could prove a clinically useful tool, particularly given the potential for cardioprotective and cardioreparative pharmacological strategies. This approach represents an exciting and innovative strategy, and available data set the stage for large-scale and long-term trials, where this noninvasive assessment of myocardial fibrosis in patients with hypertensive heart disease and other cardiac diseases could prove useful.