DETECTION OF PHOSPHOMONOESTER SIGNALS IN PROTON-DECOUPLED P-31 NMR-SPECTRA OF THE MYOCARDIUM OF PATIENTS WITH MYOCARDIAL HYPERTROPHY

Proton-decoupled P-31 NMR spectroscopy 1.5 T of the anterior left vent ricular myocardium was used to monitor myocardial phosphate metabolism in asymptomatic patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM, n = 1 4) and aortic stenosis (AS, n 12). In addition to the well-known phosp horus signals a phosphomonoester (PME) signal was detected at about 6. 9 ppm in 7 HCM and 2 AS patients. This signal was not observed in the spectra of normal controls (n = 11). We suggest that in spectra of pat ients with myocardial hypertrophy the presence of a PME signal reflect s alterations in myocardial glucose metabolism. (C) 1998 Academic Pres s.