The use of phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study in vivo the effect of coenzyme Q10 treatment in retinitis pigmentosa.

Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) has emerged as a noninvasive reliable tool for in vivo study of human tissue bioenergetics. It detects and quantifies some phosphorylated compounds present in millimolar concentration inside the cell, including ATP, phosphocreatine (PCr) and inorganic phosphate (Pi). By 31P-MRS we studied brain and skeletal muscle energy metabolism of three patients with retinitis pigmentosa before and after oral coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) (100 mg/day). Before treatment we found a low PCr content in the brains of all patients, accompanied by a high [Pi] and high [ADP]. In two of three patients CoQ10 treatment resulted in a larger brain energy reserve mainly shown by an increased [PCr]. Abnormal muscle mitochondrial function was found only in one patient as shown by a reduced rate of PCr resynthesis after exercise. In this patient CoQ10 treatment resulted in an increased rate of PCr resynthesis. Our observations indicate that CoQ10 can improve mitochondrial functionality in the brain and skeletal muscle of patients with retinitis pigmentosa.