The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 31, 373-376, Copyright © 1981 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Contractile fibroblasts (myofibroblasts) in a painful pacemaker pocket
R Rudolph, JR Utley and M Woodward
Electron microscopy of a painful fibrotic capsule around a cardiac
pacemaker revealed classic myofibroblasts. These contractile fibroblasts
share characteristics of both smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts and are
thought to be the cellular cause of wound and scar contraction. The
occurrence of pain and tenderness around a sterile pacemaker probably
indicates contraction of scar tissue as the basis of the symptoms. This
scar tissue is similar to that seen around other large inert implants
placed in the thoracic tissue.