When you remodel your house, that is often considered a good thing.
The opposite is true with remodeling of the heart.
This remodeling occurs due to mechanical stress on the heart muscle produced by the underlying disease process.
Tomekbudujedomek / Getty Images
A useful surrogate measure of remodeling is the left ventricularejection fraction(LVEF).
If remodeling improves, the LVEF also improves.
For instance, at one time the use ofinotropic drugswas widespread in treating heart failure.
These drugs improve the ability of weakened heart muscle to contract more forcefully.
Beta-blockers perhaps offer the most striking example of this newer thinking.
2018;29(1):5165. doi:10.5830/CVJA-2017-009