Fig. 2: Histopathology from human hearts following AAV1/SERCA2a gene delivery.

Both hearts showed similar features with the myocardium showing patchy fine interstitial fibrosis around myocytes with focal areas of more confluent fibrous replacement (Fig. 2a Elastin Van Gieson (x40) and b. Haematoxylin &Eosin (x40)). There was no evidence of endocarditis or myocarditis in either specimen and, except for rare perivascular lymphocytes seen focally in one specimen (Fig. 2c), no inflammatory infiltrates were seen in either heart. This was associated with some myocyte hypertrophy with nuclear enlargement (Fig. 2d). The features in both specimens were consistent with dilated cardiomyopathy without evidence of inflammatory myocarditis.