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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

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American Journal of Neuroradiology 28:1517-1522, September 2007
DOI 10.3174/ajnr.A0594
© 2007 American Society of Neuroradiology

BRAIN

Axonal Damage But No Increased Glial Cell Activity in the Normal-Appearing White Matter of Patients with Clinically Isolated Syndromes Suggestive of Multiple Sclerosis Using High-Field Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

M.P. Wattjes^a, M. Harzheim^b, G.G. Lutterbey^a, L. Klotz^b, H.H. Schild^a and F. Träber^a

^a From the Department of Radiology/Neuroradiology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
^b Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

Please address correspondence to Mike P. Wattjes, MD, MS Center Amsterdam, Department of Radiology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; e-mail: m.wattjes{at}vumc.nl

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Proton MR spectroscopy (¹H-MR spectroscopy) is a well-established method for the in vivo investigation of the normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Metabolic changes in NAWM are of special interest in patients with clinically isolated syndromes (CIS) suggestive of MS regarding further prognostic classifications. The purpose of this study was to investigate metabolic alterations in NAWM in patients with CIS with use of high-field ¹H-MR spectroscopy and to compare the results to those in patients with an early course of MS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: With use of a 3T whole-body MR imaging system, single-voxel ¹H-MR spectroscopy (PRESS; TR: 2000 ms; TE: 38 ms and 140 ms) of the parietal NAWM was performed in 20 control subjects, 36 patients with CIS, and 12 patients with MS. Metabolite ratios and concentrations of N-acetylaspartate (tNAA), myo-inositol (mIns), choline, and total creatine (tCr) were determined.

RESULTS: Compared with the control group, mean NAWM mIns concentrations were significantly elevated in the MS group (4.56 mmol/L versus 3.75 mmol/L, P = .02) but not in the CIS group (4.04 mmol/L, P = .44). The higher concentration of mIns in the MS group was also reflected in the increased Ins/tCr ratio (P = .02). The mean NAWM tNAA was significantly decreased in both patient groups compared with the control group (CIS, 13.42 mmol/L, P = .02; MS, 12.77 mmol/L versus 14.51 mmol/L, P = .008).

CONCLUSIONS: A significant increase of the activity of the glial cells can only be observed in patients with an established diagnosis of MS but not in patients with CIS. Axonal damage occurs already during the first demyelinating episode in patients with CIS as well as in patients with definite MS.

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