CARDIAC P-31-MR-SPECTROSCOPY IN MYOCARDIA L INSUFFICIENCY

The relative linear relationships of creatin phosphate/gamma-adenosin triphosphate (PCr/ATP) and of phosphodiester (PDE)/ATP were measured i n 38 normals and 27 patients with cardiac insufficiency using cardiac P-31-MR-spectroscopy. There was no significant difference between norm als and those with dilated cardiomyopathy (19 cases) and severe aortic valve lesions (8 cases), irrespective of the clinical stage of the ca rdiac abnormality. Within subgroups of insufficiency there was a corre lation between PCr/ATP and the severity of the disease with significan t differences between mild and severe cardiac insufficiency. In 6 pati ents a significant rise in PCr/ATP could be demonstrated following cli nical improvement under drug therapy. There was no correlation between the relative linear relationship and the left ventricular ejection fr action.