Assessment and key targets for therapy in the post-myocardial infarction patient with left ventricular dysfunction.

In the post-myocardial infarction (MI) patient with coronary artery disease (CAD) and left ventricular dysfunction (LVD), ischemia and adverse remodeling hinder myocardial performance and increase electrical instability. Collectively, the coronary arteries, myocardium, and conduction system represent the principal pathophysiologic targets in MI complicated by LVD. Consequently, an accurate assessment of disease severity in these targets is essential for the design of an effective therapeutic program. This review describes the current modalities for assessing the key pathophysiologic targets in post-MI patients with LVD and the effects of systemic factors on cardiac disease severity.