31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy investigation of skeletal muscle metabolism in uraemic patients.

Using the method of in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy we examined 17 patients with moderately advanced chronic renal insufficiency, 21 patients with chronic renal failure treated by haemodialysis, and 15 dialyzed patients with symptomatic renal osteopathy. The ratios of intracellular phosphocreatine and inorganic phosphate concentrations of these subjects measured at rest were compared with those found in healthy controls. While we noted significantly lower (p < 0.01) ratio values in all patients, subjects with osteopathy showed a lower value than dialyzed patients free of bone disease. Haemodialysis improved the result of examination in 7 patients. The results can be summarized as follows: (1) patients with altered renal function have significantly impaired energy metabolism of skeletal muscle, and (2) the disorder is more severe in patients with renal osteopathy than in those free of it.