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MRI scans show post heart attack bleeding

The first images of post-heart attack bleeding within the heart have been made by U.K. scientists using MRI scans.

The Imperial College London team said their research shows that the amount of bleeding can indicate the degree of damage caused by a heart attack. The use of this kind of imaging, along with other tests, could offer doctors a more complete assessment of a heart attack patient's condition and chances of recovery, they said.

The researchers analyzed MRI images of bleeding inside the hearts of 15 people who'd recently suffered a heart attack. They found an association between the amount of bleeding and the degree of heart muscle damage. Patients with substantial heart muscle damage had more bleeding into the heart muscle than those who had less heart muscle damage.

MRI can detect the degree of bleeding inside the heart due to the magnetic effects of iron in the blood, the researchers explained.

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