title: Gene therapy for myocardial infarction-associated congestive heart failure: how far have we got?
abstract: With the advancement of vectors, delivery methods, and newly identified molecular targets, preclinical studies have shown that gene transfer is effective in improving left ventricular contractility and attenuating deleterious left ventricular remodeling in myocardial infarction-associated congestive heart failure (CHF). We are optimistic that these favorable effects will also be seen when tested in patients with CHF associated with myocardial infarction, as well as in patients with CHF from other etiologies. Gene therapy has the potential to be tailored to meet the needs of individual patients. Moreover, when used in conjunction with pharmacological and device management of the patient with CHF, it provides hope for a brighter future for the 23 million patients worldwide with this devastating disease.
authors.affiliation: VA San Diego Healthcare System - San Diego - Calif - USA; Department of Medicine - University of California San Diego - La Jolla - Calif - USA.
authors.forename: H Kirk
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tang