Metabolic changes in the  brain in children with cognitive epileptiform disintegration revealed by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Introduction. Cognitive epileptiform disintegration is a complex of disorders of higher mental functions in a person with a pathological EEG pattern characteristic of epilepsy. In this case, the patient should not have epileptic seizures or a history of single seizures is allowed. The study of biomarkers of the pathological condition under consideration using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy as indicators that can be objectively evaluated and measured determines the practical relevance of this work.The aim of the study was to determine the diagnostic significance of the metabolites of N-acetylaspartate, choline and creatine according to proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the brain of children with cognitive epileptiform disintegration. Material and methods. Using routine MRI and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, 6 children with a diagnosis of mental retardation, cognitive epileptiform disintegration at the age of 2 to 7 years (5 boys; 1 girl) were examined. The patients underwent EEG followed by identification of a typical QED pattern. All children had no history of seizures characteristic of epilepsy. Results. А decrease in the ratio of the concentration of NAA/Cr (p<0,05) in the temporal lobes on both sides and the hippocampus on the right was revealed, due to a decrease in the concentration of N-acetylaspartate. There is also an increase in the Cho/NAA concentration ratio (p<0,05) in the hippocampus on the right, and an increase in the Cho/Cr concentration ratio (p<0,05) in the prefrontal cortex, postcentral gyri on both sides, the temporal lobe on the right and the region of the inner capsule on the left, by increasing the concentration of choline. Conclusions. Тhe obtained data suggest that changes in neurometabolism in the cholinergic system in children with cognitive epileptiform disintegration are possibly caused by damage to neuronal connections, mainly in the hippocampus and temporal lobes.

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Association between altered proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) findings and clinical symptoms of schizophrenia.

Revista de Neuro-Psiquiatria ◽

10.20453/rnp.v74i1.1672 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 74 (1) ◽

pp. 183-190

Author(s):

Senair Alberto Ambros ◽

Paulo Belmonte Abreu ◽

Eloísa Elena Ferreira ◽

Pdro Eugenio Ferreira ◽

Luciana Estacia Ambros

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ◽

Proton Magnetic Resonance ◽

Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Resonance Spectroscopy ◽

Thalamic Nuclei ◽

1H Mrs ◽

Disorganized Speech ◽

The Right

Objective: To assess the metabolic alterations of the thalamus in subjects with schizophrenia compared to healthysubjects and to investigate whether specific schizophrenic symptoms are associated with metabolic alterationsmeasured by 1H MRS. Methods: This is a case-control study including patients with schizophrenia diagnosed usingthe Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition, DMS-IV and the Operational CriteriaChecklist for Psychotic Illness (OPCRIT). Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) was used to assessmetabolite concentrations (N-acetylaspartate, choline, creatinine, myoionositol and lactacte) in the left and rightthalamus of 13 patients with schizophrenia and 13 healthy controls. Results: In this study, concentrations ofspecific metabolites in the thalamus, determined by 1H MRS, were similar for individuals with schizophrenia andcontrols. It was observed that cases with family history of schizophrenia and disorganized speech demonstrated areduction in the ratio of the metabolites NAA /Cho in the thalamic nuclei on the right side. However, those withorganized delusions, hallucinations and non-affective auditory hallucinations had an increase of metabolites on theright side compared to the left thalamus. Decreased thalamic metabolic activity in patients with positive symptomswas observed in contrast with those who had well-organized delusions and auditory non-affective hallucinations,core symptoms of schizophrenia. Conclusion: A lateralized thalamic involvement was verified, suggesting thatorganic and genetic factors compromise the right thalamus and that the disorganization associated with delusionsand hallucinations compromises the left thalamic nuclei. Further studies to investigate the correlation betweensymptoms and thalamic dysfunction are warranted. (Rev Neuropsiquiatr 2011;74:183-190)

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