Monitoring wound healing of venous stasis leg ulcers by in vivo (31) P magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
OBJECTIVE
Venous stasis ulcers is a frequent clinical problem. Objective techniques for characterization and monitoring of wound healing are needed including noninvasive study of biochemical changes associated with the healing process. (31) P magnetic resonance spectroscopy was not used in the past to study human wound healing in vivo.


METHODS
(31) P magnetic resonance spectroscopy with study of intracellular pH, phosphocreatine, and the phosphocreatine/inor-ganic phosphate ratio was used. Six patients with venous leg ulcer and three controls were studied.


RESULTS
Both intracellular pH, phosphocreatine and the phos-phocreatine/inorganic phosphate ratio were found sensitive indicators of wound healing. Surprisingly the intracellular pH in healing ulcers was in the alkali range.


CONCLUSIONS
(31) P magnetic resonance spectroscopy was found useful for the study of biochemical changes associated with wound healing. pH in the alkali range was an unexpected observation.
Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University School of Medicine, Lubbock, TX USARadiology, Texas Tech University School of Medicine, Lubbock, TX USA.
A
A
Zemtsov
Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University School of Medicine, Lubbock, TX USARadiology, Texas Tech University School of Medicine, Lubbock, TX USA.
L
L
Dixon
31P MRS; hyperbaric oxygen therapy; leg ulcer; wound healing