Figure 216-13

Progressive deterioration of myocytes in chronically dysfunctional myocardium beginning with few, if any, changes in morphology, followed by loss of contractile proteins and glycogen accumulation with continued deterioration of the cytoskeleton and progressive interstitial fibrosis with coagulation necrosis or, more likely, aptotic cell death as the ultimate end point. Possible myocyte recovery and rate of recovery are likely to depend on the severity of morphologic and functional changes, which may, however, reach a point beyond which recovery is no longer possible.