| abstract |
Cardiomyopathy may be treated by distributing a space-occupying diastole- assist agent within the myocardium or within the cardiac venous system in a pattern about one or more chambers of the heart, such that the space- modifying agent integrates into and thickens at least part of the cardiac wall about the chamber so as globally to reduce wall stress, stabilize or even reduce chamber size, and/or improve diastolic function. Some patterns also cause a beneficial global reshaping of the chamber. These changes occur quickly and are sustainable, and have a rapid and sustainable therapeutic effect on cardiac function. Patterns of distribution of space-occupying agent within the myocardium for global resizing may also be used or augmented to treat localized conditions such as myocardial infarctions, overt aneurysm of the ventricular wall as typically forms in response to large transmural myocardial infarctions, and mitral regurgitation due to a noncompliant mitral valve. These techniques may also be used to treat localized conditions that may not yet have progressed to cardiomyopathy. |