Muscle MRS detects elevated PDE/ATP ratios prior to fatty infiltration in Becker muscular dystrophy

Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) is characterized by progressive muscle weakness. Muscles show structural changes (fatty infiltration, fibrosis) and metabolic changes, both of which can be assessed using MRI and MRS. It is unknown at what stage of the disease process metabolic changes arise and how this might vary for different metabolites. In this study we assessed metabolic changes in skeletal muscles of Becker patients, both with and without fatty infiltration, quantified via Dixon MRI and 31P MRS. MRI and 31P MRS scans were obtained from 25 Becker patients and 14 healthy controls using a 7 T MR scanner. Five lower‐leg muscles were individually assessed for fat and muscle metabolite levels. In the peroneus, soleus and anterior tibialis muscles with non‐increased fat levels, PDE/ATP ratios were higher (P