Reduced N-acetylaspartate concentration in temporal lobe epilepsy by quantitative 1H MRS in vivo

Neuroreport. 1994 Sep 8;5(14):1733-6. doi: 10.1097/00001756-199409080-00011.

Abstract

We used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) to determine concentrations of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine and choline in vivo (63 MHz) and in vitro (400 MHz) in seven patients undergoing surgical treatment of intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Nine healthy volunteers were used as controls for in vivo MRS. NAA concentrations in vivo on the ipsilateral and contralateral sides were 6.5 +/- 1.3 (s.d.) and 7.9 (+/- 2.1) mmol l-1, respectively and 8.6 (+/- 0.8) mmol l-1 in the volunteers. NAA concentration in vitro was 3.2 (+/- 0.9) mumol g-1 wet weight (ww) and the corresponding concentration from the macroscopically intact brain tissue was 4.7 (+/- 1.0) mumol g-1 ww. Thus, in vivo quantitative 1H MRS identified the size of seizure focus in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aspartic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Aspartic Acid / metabolism
  • Choline / metabolism
  • Creatine / metabolism
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / metabolism*
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / pathology
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / physiology
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Hippocampus / pathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Aspartic Acid
  • N-acetylaspartate
  • Creatine
  • Choline