In Vivo 31P MR Spectroscopy of Human Kidney Grafts Using the 2D-Chemical Shift Imaging Method

Patients with an acute rejection episodes showed a significantly elevated PME/β-ATP and PDE/β-ATP, PME/Pi, and PDE/Pi signal ratios compared with the control group. The group with acute tubular necrosis had decreased ratios. Patients with late graft dysfunction revealed only an insignificant decrease in PME/Pi and PDE/Pi ratios. We concluded that 31P MRS was capable of distinguishing the two main causes of graft dysfunction early after transplantation.