Paired Pressure-Volume Loop Analysis and Biaxial Mechanical Testing Characterize Differences in Left Ventricular Tissue Stiffness of Volume Overload and Angiotensin-Induced Pressure Overload Hearts.

Pressure overload (PO) and volume overload (VO) of the heart result in distinctive changes to geometry, due to compensatory structural remodeling. This remodeling potentially leads to changes in tissue mechanical properties. Understanding such changes is important, as tissue modulus has an impact on cardiac performance, disease progression, and influences on cell phenotype.