The invention relates to methods of treating patients who have suffered an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with a theiapeutic that has anti-fibrotic effects, for example, pirfenidone and analogs thereof Control vs PFO Serial Ejection Fractions Time of TTE pre and post-infarct (Rats are randomized to PFD vs control after 1 week TTE performed) FIGURE 1