Effects of Exercise Training on Myocardial Energy Metabolism and Ventricular Function Assessed by Quantitative Phosphorus-31 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Effects of Exercise Training on Myocardial Energy Metabolism and Ventricular Function Assessed by Quantitative Phosphorus-31 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Dilated Cardiomyopathy Meinrad Beer, Doris Wagner, Jonathan Myers, Jörn Sandstede, Herbert Köstler, Dietbert Hahn, Stefan Neubauer, Paul Dubach Exercise training (ET) improves myocardial function in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM); however, it might be energy-costly. Phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was applied to detect possible energetic derangements under ET. Twenty-four patients randomized to an exercise or a control group were followed-up with exercise testing, quantitative cardiac MRS, and magnetic resonance imaging. The ET lasting 8 months improved left ventricular end-systolic volume and ejection fraction but not right ventricular parameters. No deterioration of myocardial energetics occurred. Thus, the amelioration of myocardial function after ET is not energy-costly. This lends further support to the use of ET as adjunct therapy in DCM.