Skeletal muscle Mg2+, membrane permeability, and pH are altered in Becker muscular dystrophy: A 31P-MRS and DT-MRI study

Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) is an X-linked disorder characterised by variable, progressive muscle damage and loss of function. MR-derived fat fraction is used as a disease-progression marker, but early markers are lacking. Here we compared membrane permeability measures between BMD patients and controls to test whether these are altered in BMD. Phosphorus-(31P)-MRS showed reduced ionised magnesium [Mg2+], and increased phosphodiester/adenosine-triphosphate ratios and pH in the tibialis anterior muscle in patients, while diffusion-tensor-(DT)-MRI-derived permeability showed no inter-group differences. Future studies should determine the predictive value of 31P-MRS-measured [Mg2+], pH, and membrane breakdown for disease progression, to establish their potential as biomarkers.