Correlation of seizure frequency with N-acetyl-aspartate levels determined by 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging

Magn Reson Imaging. 1997;15(4):475-8. doi: 10.1016/s0730-725x(96)00327-x.

Abstract

Using 1H MRSI, we measured N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), a neuronal marker, in the seizure focus of 16 patients with partial epilepsy. Decreasing NAA correlated with increasing seizure frequency in frontal lobe epilepsy (r = -0.72, p < 0.02) and a similar trend was present in temporal lobe epilepsy (r = -.60, p < 0.06). NAA was not related to the duration of epilepsy. We conclude that patients with higher seizure frequency have evidence of greater neuron loss or dysfunction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aspartic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Aspartic Acid / metabolism
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Creatine / metabolism
  • Epilepsies, Partial / diagnosis
  • Epilepsies, Partial / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Aspartic Acid
  • N-acetylaspartate
  • Creatine