Poddi Salvatore, Lefter Cynthia L, Linardi Daniele, Ardigò Andrea, Luciani Giovanni B, Rungatscher Alessio
Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Verona Medical Center, 37126 Verona, Italy.
George Emil Palade University Medical School, 540139 Targu-Mures, Romania.
J Cardiovasc Dev Dis. 2025 May 18;12(5):192. doi: 10.3390/jcdd12050192.
Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) from myofibroblasts and is crucial in patients with heart failure (HF). Much work is still needed to fully understand its features and clinical role. This review aims to summarize the state-of-the-art of MF knowledge, focusing on assessment, quantification, predictive value, and future therapies. We performed a literature search about MF studies published between 2014 and 2024, including clinical studies on MF assessment or quantification, the role of MF as a prognostic factor in patients with HF, basic science studies on fibrosis assessment, and the role of the main mechanisms involved in MF. We identified 5161 potentially relevant articles. After excluding non-appropriate ones, we had 186 potentially suitable studies. After full reading and a review of references, 40 articles were included in our review: 8 were about MF assessment, 5 about quantification, and 27 about fibrosis as a prognostic factor. MF is a crucial process in patients with cardiac diseases and leads to HF and arrhythmias. Assessment and quantification have taken great steps forward, but more research is needed to strengthen MF's role as a prognostic factor in the future. Basic science will play a key role in anti-fibrosis treatment.
心肌纤维化（MF）是肌成纤维细胞过度沉积细胞外基质（ECM）的过程，在心力衰竭（HF）患者中至关重要。要全面了解其特征和临床作用，仍需开展大量工作。本综述旨在总结MF的最新知识，重点关注评估、量化、预测价值及未来治疗方法。我们对2014年至2024年间发表的关于MF的研究进行了文献检索，包括MF评估或量化的临床研究、MF作为HF患者预后因素的作用、纤维化评估的基础科学研究以及MF主要机制的作用。我们筛选出5161篇潜在相关文章。排除不合适的文章后，有186项潜在合适的研究。在进行全文阅读并查阅参考文献后，40篇文章被纳入我们的综述：8篇关于MF评估，5篇关于量化，27篇关于纤维化作为预后因素。MF是心脏疾病患者的关键病理过程，可导致HF和心律失常。评估和量化已取得很大进展，但未来仍需更多研究来强化MF作为预后因素的作用。基础科学将在抗纤维化治疗中发挥关键作用。
