Novel Imaging Strategies for Predicting Remodeling and Evolution of Heart Failure: Targeting the Renin-angiotensin System

The recent recommendations of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association emphasize the development of management strategies that will prevent the evolution of heart failure (HF) in those who are susceptible to or suffer from left ventricular dysfunction. The assessment of neurohumoral upregulation by appropriate molecular imaging should be able to identify the likelihood of adverse cardiac remodeling and the rate of progression of the disease. The increasing life expectancy in the Western world and constant advances in the management of other cardiovascular diseases are expected to add tremendously to the burden of HF; a preventive approach would become a necessity. Targeting of RAS will help the understanding of an important aspect of this preventive strategy.