title: [Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy methods for measuring intra- and extra-cellular pH: clinical implications].
abstract: We review the different methods for measuring pH by magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy and discuss their potential diagnostic repercussions. We begin with a brief description of intra- and extra-cellular pH regulation in physiological and pathological conditions. Then we present the main 31P or 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy procedures, which are based on the dependence of the pH on the chemical displacements of the intrinsic intracellular inorganic phosphate or of the H2 proton of imidazole in extrinsic indicators. Finally, we describe the procedures that use magnetic resonance imaging, whose main tool is the dependence of the pH (i) on the relaxivity of certain paramagnetic contrast agents, or (ii) on the processes of magnetic transference between diamagnetic molecules (DIACEST) or paramagnetic molecules (PARACEST) and the free water in the tissues. We briefly illustrate the potential clinical applications of these new procedures.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Síntesis Orgánica e Imagen Molecular por Resonancia Magnética, Departamento de Química Inorgánica y Química Técnica, Facultad de Ciencias, UNED, Madrid, Spain. pballesteros@ccia.uned.es
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ballesteros
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pérez-Mayoral
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benito
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cerdán
mesh_terms: D045604:Extracellular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy