The creatine kinase (CK) forward rate constant kf
is a sensitive biomarker for heart failure. However, the low SNR of 31P-MRS
at 1.5T and 3T has only allowed it to be measured at low spatial resolution by
1D-CSI. Here, we show how cardiac 7T 31P-MRS permits 3D resolved measurements
for the first time.
A 3D variant of the FAST kfCK method was combined with 31P
Bloch-Siegert B1+ mapping to enable 3D-resolved measurements at 7T. The first
measurements of the creatine kinase rate in myocardium in the interventricular
septum are obtained from four subjects. Our mean kf = 0.36±0.04 s-1
was consistent with literature values.
