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[1H-MR spectroscopy in anorexia nervosa: reversible cerebral metabolic changes]
R Möckel1, H P Schlemmer, F Gückel
1Institut für Klinische Radiologie, Klinikum Mannheim gGmbH, Universitätsklinikum, Fakultät für Klinische Medizin Mannheim, Universität Heidelberg. moeckel@ikr.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Purpose:
By using localized 1H-MR spectroscopy in the brain of patients with anorexia nervosa we wanted to verify our preliminary results and to look for a reversibility of the metabolic changes under therapy.
Methods:
In 22 patients and 17 healthy volunteers (11 follow-up examinations) single voxel 1H-MR spectroscopy (TE = 50 ms, TM = 30 ms, TR = 1500 ms, voxel (2 cm)3, acq.: 256) was used in two different localizations (thalamus and parieto-occipital region). The first examination of the patients was performed before therapy, the follow-up examination at the end of therapy.
Results:
In both regions of the brain we found a statistically significant elevation of the Cho/Cr-ratio in comparison to normal controls. The follow-up examinations revealed reversibility of the metabolic changes under successful therapy.
Conclusions:
1H-MR spectroscopy reveals metabolic changes in the brain of patients with anorexia nervosa, which are reversible under successful therapy. These metabolic changes can be conclusively explained using a biochemical model.