Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging in the clinical evaluation of patients with Niemann-Pick type C disease. Issue 1 (1st July 1998)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tedeschi, G; Bonavita, S; Barton, N W; Bertolino, A; Frank, J A; Patronas, N J; Alger, J R; Schiffmann, R
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Volume 65:Issue 1(1998)
• Page Start: 72
• Page End: 79
• Publication Date: 1998-07-01
• Subjects: proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy -- Niemann-Pick disease -- clinical stage; Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.65.1.72
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3050

Abstract

Abstract : OBJECTIVES: 10 patients with Niemann-Pick disease type C (NP-C) were studied by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging ( 1 H-MRSI) to assess the biochemical pathology of the brain and to determine whether this method can be useful to clinically evaluate these patients. METHODS: 1 H-MRSI permits the simultaneous measurement of N-acetyl aspartate (NA), compounds containing choline (Cho), creatine plus phosphocreatine (Cre), and lactate (Lac) signal intensities from four 15 mm slices divided into 0.84 ml single volume elements. Spectroscopic voxels were identified from seven regions of interest. RESULTS: In patients with NP-C, NA/Cre was significantly decreased in the frontal and parietal cortices, centrum semiovale, and caudate nucleus; Cho/Cre was significantly increased in the frontal cortex and centrum semiovale. Significant correlations were found between clinical staging scale scores and 1 H-MRSI abnormalities. CONCLUSION: 1 H-MRSI showed diffuse brain involvement in patients with NP-C consistent with the pathological features of the disease. 1 H-MRSI is an objective and sensitive tool to neurologically evaluate patients with NP-C.