IN-VIVO NA-23 NMR-STUDIES OF MYOTONIC-DYSTROPHY

Myotonic dystrophy is an inherited multi-system disease. Its pathophys iology leading to muscle malfunction and damage is not well understood . Na-23 NMR spectroscopy was applied here for an in vivo comparative s tudy of the calf muscles of 7 myotonic dystrophy patients at various s tages of the disease and 11 healthy volunteers. Both the total sodium content, expressed as the ratio of the Na-23 and H-1 water signals, an d the fast transverse relaxation time, T-2f, determined from the tripl e quantum-filtered spectra, increased in correlation with the severity of the disease. The results demonstrate that Na-23 NMR enables the qu antitation of myotonic dystrophy progression.