Detection and Significance of Heart Injury in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Heart imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides detailed insights into heart function and injury. The nature and significance of heart injury after a heart attack is incompletely understood. We propose a 'natural history' study of heart attack injury using contemporary MRI methods. In a large hospital in the West of Scotland, heart attack patients will be invited to have at least two MRI scans and also continue with life-long follow-up. The results from the MRI scans will be assessed with all of the other clinical information obtained at the time of the heart attack and during follow-up. The results of our study should provide new insights into heart attack injury and these results should help improve how heart attack patients should be treated.