A novel echocardiographic method closely agrees with cardiac magnetic resonance in the assessment of left ventricular function in infarcted mice

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) is the gold standard for left ventricular (LV) function assessment in small rodents and, though echocardiography (ECHO) has been proposed as an alternative method, LV volumes may be underestimated when marked eccentric remodeling is present. In the present study we described a novel echocardiographic method and we tested the agreement with CMR for LV volumes and ejection fraction calculation in mice with experimental myocardial infarction. Sham-operated and infarcted mice, subjected to Coronary Artery Ligation, underwent ECHO and CMR. Volumes and ejection fraction were calculated by ECHO using a standard Simpson's modified method (ECHO pLAX) or a method from sequential parasternal short axis (ECHO pSAX) acquired mechanically by translating the probe every 1 mm along the left ventricle. The mean differences +/- 1.96 standard deviation near to zero suggested close agreement between ECHO pSAX and CMR; contrarily ECHO pLAX agreement with CMR was lower. In addition, ECHO was three times shorter and cheaper (Relative cost difference: pLAX: -66% and pSAX -57%) than CMR. In conclusion, ECHO pSAX is a new, fast, cheap and accurate method for LV function assessment in mice.