hyperpolarized 13C-pyruvate + hyperpolarized 13C-urea

Hyperpolarized 13C-pyruvate is an investigational metabolic imaging agent used in conjunction with hyperpolarized 13C-urea to assess liver metabolism via Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Developed for use in clinical research by investigators such as Dr. Michael Ohliger at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), the technology utilizes dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) to enhance the MR signal of 13C-labeled substrates by over 10,000-fold. This allows for the real-time, non-invasive monitoring of pyruvate's conversion into metabolites like lactate, alanine, and bicarbonate, which are catalyzed by enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase and alanine transaminase. In the context of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), this imaging modality serves as a diagnostic tool to quantify metabolic shifts associated with inflammation and fibrosis, providing a more detailed physiological assessment than conventional anatomical imaging. Hyperpolarized 13C-urea is co-administered as a perfusion marker to normalize metabolic data against blood flow.

Other names

HP 13C-pyruvateHP13C-pyruvateHP-13C-pyruvateHP 13C-ureaHP13C-ureaHP-13C-urea[1-13C]pyruvate13C-ureaHyperpolarized 13C-Michael Ohliger, MD PhD-non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-non-alcoholic steatohepatitis