title: 3.0T 31P MR spectroscopy in assessment of response to antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the utility of phosphorus-31 (31P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) as a noninvasive test for assessment of response to interferon and ribavirin treatment in patients with different severities of hepatitis C virus infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty chronic hepatitis C patients undergoing antiviral therapy with interferon and ribavirin underwent 31P MRS at 3.0T before treatment, 6 mo after the start of treatment, and 1 year after the start of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The phosphomonoester (PME)/phosphodiester (PDE) ratio at 6 mo after the start of antiviral therapy in the Child-Pugh B and C groups were significantly higher than those before therapy, but this was not seen in the Child-Pugh A group. In the antiviral therapy group, the PME/PDE ratios had decreased on follow-up MR spectroscopy. However, in the virological nonresponder group, the PME/PDE ratios on follow-up imaging were similar to the baseline values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  31P MRS can be used to provide biochemical information on hepatic metabolic processes. This study indicates that the PME/PDE ratio can be used as an indicator of response to antiviral treatment in chronic hepatitis C patients.
authors.affiliation: Chun-Yu Zhang, Hai-Shan Yang, Department of Radiology, China-Japan Union Hospital Affiliated to Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Chun-Yu Zhang, Hai-Shan Yang, Department of Radiology, China-Japan Union Hospital Affiliated to Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Chun-Yu Zhang, Hai-Shan Yang, Department of Radiology, China-Japan Union Hospital Affiliated to Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Mao
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Chun-Yu Zhang, Hai-Shan Yang, Department of Radiology, China-Japan Union Hospital Affiliated to Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Shan
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004952:Esters / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004952:Esters; D010758:Phosphorus; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons
keywords: 31P; Antiviral therapy; Hepatitis C; Magnetic resonance spectroscopy