[Clinical relevance of MR spectroscopy of the heart]

MR spectroscopy is the only method that allows for the noninvasive study of cardiac metabolism in the human heart without the use of external radioactive tracers. 31P-spectroscopy allows to examine the high-energy phosphates ATP and phosphocreatine. Clinical studies with 31P-spectroscopy have focused on three areas: heart failure, valve disease and coronary artery disease. Whether MR spectroscopy will become a routine diagnostic tool in the future remains to be determined.