Advances in human cardiac P-31-MR spectroscopy: SLOOP and clinical applications

Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (P-31-MRS) has revealed a lot ab out the biochemistry of physiological and pathological processes in the hea rt. Nevertheless, until today, cardiac P-31-MRS has not had any clinical Im pact, albeit some pioneering studies demonstrated that P-31-MRS can indeed provide diagnostic information. In this paper, the development of technique s for human cardiac P-31-MRS over the past decade Is reviewed, and the requ irements for a reliable clinical measurement protocol are discussed. Spatia l localization with optimal pointspread function (SLOOP) is a new method to achieve spatial localization and absolute quantitation. Its properties are detailed, and preliminary findings in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy or myocardial infarction are presented. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.