Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal inherited genetic disorder that 
results in progressive muscle weakness and ultimately loss of ambulation, 
respiratory failure and heart failure. Cardiac MRI (MRI) plays an increasingly 
important role in the diagnosis and clinical care of boys with DMD and 
associated cardiomyopathies. Conventional cardiac MRI biomarkers permit 
measurements of global cardiac function and presence of fibrosis, but changes in 
these measures are late manifestations. Emerging MRI biomarkers of myocardial 
function and structure include the estimation of rotational mechanics and 
regional strain using MRI tagging; T1-mapping; and T2-mapping, a marker of 
inflammation, edema and fat. These emerging biomarkers provide earlier insights 
into cardiac involvement in DMD, improving patient care and aiding the 
evaluation of emerging therapies.