In vivo validation of an ultra-high field, high temporal resolution myocardial tagging technique for assessment of diastolic function in mice

Background Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction accounts for approximately half of all heart failure cases and is associated with similar morbidity and mortality. Although abnormalities of diastolic function are felt to play an important role, no specific treatments have been identified for this common condition, primarily because of poor understanding of its pathophysiology. Despite development of several murine models of this disease, accurate non-invasive assessment of diastolic function has been challenging. Echocardiographic measurements have been limited by small heart sizes, rapid ventricular rates and high inter-observer variability. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of ultra-high field, high temporal resolution CMR tagging to assess diastolic function in mice, compared to the gold-standard technique of invasive pressure-volume loop analysis.