CALF MUSCLE METABOLISM IN VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY

Objectives: To study the effect of deep venous insufficiency on calf m uscle energy metabolism. Design: A paired study of affected and unaffe cted calf muscle in seven patients with unilateral lower limb deep ven ous insufficiency. Investigations: Phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance sp ectroscopy was used to study changes in vivo in pH, phosphocreatine an d other phosphorus metabolites during and after exercise. Results: Gly colytic activity was increased in the affected muscle at the start of exercise but metabolic recovery following exercise was normal. Conclus ions: Oxidative phosphorylation is impaired, at least at the start of exercise, but appears normal immediately after exercise. This may be d ue to inadequate blood flow, perhaps secondary to the rise in intramus cular pressure that occurs with exercise.