Related Experiment Videos
Proton MR spectroscopy with metabolite-nulling reveals elevated macromolecules in acute multiple sclerosis
I Mader1, U Seeger, R Weissert
1Section for Experimental Magnetic Resonance of the Central Nervous System, Eberhard-Karls University, Tübingen, Germany. irina.mader@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Brain : a Journal of Neurology
|May 4, 2001
Summary
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy reveals elevated macromolecule signals in acute multiple sclerosis lesions, potentially indicating myelin fragments. This finding helps differentiate active from chronic lesions in multiple sclerosis patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Biochemistry
- Neurology
Background:
- Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) previously indicated elevated lipid signals in acute multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions.
- Metabolite-nulling techniques enable the separation of macromolecules from other metabolites in MRS.
- Understanding biochemical differences in MS lesions is crucial for diagnosis and monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To differentiate biochemically between acute and chronic multiple sclerosis lesions using metabolite-nulled proton MRS.
- To identify the nature of elevated macromolecular resonances observed in acute MS lesions.
- To assess the potential of these macromolecular resonances as reliable biomarkers for acute MS.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a 1.5 T MRI scanner with a stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM) sequence.
- Employed metabolite-nulling and outer volume saturation techniques for spectral separation.
- Investigated 10 patients with acute MS lesions, 10 with chronic lesions, and 10 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Significantly elevated macromolecular resonances at 0.9 and 1.3 parts per million (p.p.m.) were observed in acute MS lesions compared to chronic lesions and controls.
- N-acetyl-aspartate was reduced in both acute and chronic MS lesions, while choline was elevated in acute lesions.
- The elevated macromolecular resonances did not match lipid profiles and are hypothesized to originate from proteins/polypeptides rich in specific amino acids found in myelin.
Conclusions:
- The increased macromolecular resonances at 0.9 and 1.3 p.p.m. in acute MS lesions may represent biochemical markers of myelin fragments.
- These findings suggest that macromolecular resonances can serve as reliable biochemical markers to distinguish acute MS lesions from chronic lesions and healthy tissue.
- This technique offers improved biochemical discrimination for characterizing multiple sclerosis lesion activity.