What are the Clinical Implications of Myocardial Stiffness?
Increased myocardial stiffness has significant clinical implications, particularly in the context of heart failure. It can lead to diastolic dysfunction, where the heart's ability to relax and fill with blood is impaired. This condition is often seen in patients with HFpEF, a subtype of heart failure characterized by normal ejection fraction but reduced cardiac output due to stiffness. Understanding the histological basis of myocardial stiffness can help in developing targeted therapies to mitigate its effects.
