Patients of the University Hospital Göttingen with echocardiographic signs for diastolic heart failure and indication for right heart catheterisation will undergo additional diagnostic testing with CMR including exercise stress for detailed evaluation of diastolic dysfunction and tissue characterisation correlating the results with well-established clinical standards.

Inclusion Criteria:

• adult patients with dyspnoea under stress, echocardiographic criteria for diastolic dysfunction (E/E'>8) and clinical indication for right heart catheterisation

Exclusion Criteria:

• arrhythmia (brady- or tachycardic)
• bronchial asthma (allergic)
• incompliant patient
• pacemaker, ICD, non MRI-capable devices
• inability to use the ergometer in the MRI
• haemodynamic relevant valvular heart disease
• pulmonary disease (vital capacity or forced expiratory flow <80% of healthy control)
• angina pectoris
• post cardiac infarction
• anaemia (Hb <12 g/dl)
• uncontrollable hypertension (>150 mmHg systolic or >100 mmHg diastolic)
• age <18 years
• pregnancy
• claustrophobia
• renal insufficiency
• allergic to gadolinium based contrast agents

The data acquired within the current study will be available via the german centre for cardiovascular research (DZHK) to researchers who successfully applied to undertake additional scientific studies based on DZHK data.