Six weeks after MI, the ejection fraction, contractility index peak rate of pressure rise (dpdt max) and relaxation index peak rate of pressure decline (–dpdt max) were increased by 15%, 38% and 47% after epicardial EPO delivery (group EPO-F) compared with a myocardial infarction control group with an epicardial fibrin patch (MIC-F; P<0.001, P=0.003 and P=0.002), respectively. Here, EPO is linked to myocardial infarction.