Monitoring wound healing of venous stasis leg ulcers by in vivo 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy

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Abstract
Background/aims: 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. 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy was not used in the past to study human wound healing in vivo.Methods: 31P 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.Conclusion: 31P 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.