Changes in muscular lipids in unilateral isolated hypertrophy of gastrocnemius muscle can be revealed by 1H MR spectroscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To test whether proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) reveals changes in the lipid content of the gastrocnemius muscle (GM) and soleus muscle (SOL) of a patient with unilateral isolated hypertrophy of the right GM.


METHODS
(1)H-MRS was performed on a 1.5 Tesla (T) whole-body unit. Muscular lipids inside SOL and GM were assessed in both calves of the patient by a STEAM (stimulated echo acquisition mode) localization sequence. Results were compared to a control group of four healthy volunteers.


RESULTS
Total amount of muscular lipids in the hypertrophic GM of the patient was clearly increased compared to the controls (38.7 versus 21.8+/-3.5 a.u.) while intramyocellular lipids of the adjacent SOL were lower compared to the contralateral healthy leg.


CONCLUSIONS
Muscular lipids are substrates for metabolism and can be assessed non-invasively by (1)H-MRS. (1)H-MRS is considered to be a helpful tool in clinical assessment of muscle metabolism in cases with muscular hypo- or hypertrophy.
Brechtel
Klaus
K
Section on Experimental Radiology, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Strasse 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Machann
Juergen
J
Pick
Margarete
M
Schaefer
Juergen F
JF
Claussen
Claus D
CD
Schick
Fritz
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000378:metabolism; D007866:Leg / Q000473:pathology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology