Skip to main content

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in brain white matter disorders

The Italian Journal of Neurological Sciences volume 18, pages 331–339 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

The advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has revolutionized the clinical approach to the evaluation of brain white matter disorders and has contributed significantly to expansion of the concept of these diseases. MRI is very sensitive at detecting white matter lesions, but conventional T1 and T2-weighted images do not provide specific pathological information about the lesions, and correlation between MRI lesion load and clinical disability is often weak. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy can provide chemical-pathological information of a given tissue invivo. The use of this MR technique in brain white matter disorders has shown to improve diagnostic classification and to provide surrogate measures useful for monitoring disease evolution and response to therapeutic intervention.

Sommario

L'avvento della risonanza magnetica per immagini ha rivoluzionato l'approccio clinico verso le patologie della sostanza bianca cerebrale ed ha fortemente contribuito all'evolversi del concetto di tali malattie. Tuttavia, malgrado la risonanza magnetica per immagini convenzionale sia ottimale per localizzare ed identificare le lesioni cerebrali, essa ha mostrato forti limiti nel fornire specifiche informazioni circa tali lesioni. La risonanza magnetica spettroscopica à stata di recente utilizzata in pazienti affetti dalle più diverse malattie coinvolgenti primariamente la sostanza bianca cerebrale dimostrandosi in grado di fornire nuove ed importanti informazioni delle lesioni cerebrali studiate. Tali informazioni si sono rivelate utili per una migliore diagnosi di tali patologie così come per un monitoraggio della loro evoluzione e della loro risposta ad interventi terapeutici.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. Arnold DL, Matthews PM, Francis G, Antel J.Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of human brain in vivo in the evaluation of multiple sclerosis: assessment of the load of disease. Magn. Reson. Med., 1990; 14: 154–159.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Arnold DL, Matthews PM, Francis GS, O'Connor J, Antel JP.Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging for Metabolic Characterization of Demyelinating Plaques. Ann. Neurol., 1992; 31: 235–241.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Arnold DL, Matthews PM, De Stefano N.MRI and proton MRS in the evaluation of multiple sclerosis. In: Bachelard. eds. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging in neurochemistry. New York: Plenum Press. 1997; 8: 267–288.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Arnold DL, Matthews PM.Clinical applications of brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In: IR Young, C Charles. eds. MR Spectroscopy: Clinical Applications and Techniques. London: Martin Dunitz. 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Austin SJ, Connelly A, Gadian DG, Benton JS, Brett EM.Localized 1H NMR spectroscopy in Canavan's disease: a report of two cases. Magn. Reson. Med., 1991; 19: 439–445.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bardosi A, Creutzfeldt W, Dimauro S, et al.Myo-, neuro-, gastrointestinal encephalopathy (MNGIE syndrome) due to partial deficiency of cytochrome-coxidase. A new mitochondrial multisystem disorder. Acta Neuropathol, 1987; 74: 248–258.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Barnes D, Munro PMG, Youl BD, Prineas JW, McDonald WI.The longstanding MS lesion; a quantitative MRI and electron microscopic study. Brain, 1991; 114: 1271–1280.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Bruhn H, Kruse B, Korenke GC, et al.Proton NMR spectroscopy of cerebral metabolic alterations in infantile peroxisomal disorders. J Comput Assist Tomogr, 1992; 16: 335–344.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Burgeois M, Goutieres F, Chretien D, Rustin P, Munnich A, Aicardi J.Deficiency in complex II of the respiratory chain, presenting as a leukodystrophy in two sisters with Leigh syndrome. Brain Dev., 1992; 14: 404–408.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Chang L, Ernst T, Tornatore C, et al.Metabolite abnormalities in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Neurology, 1997; 48: 836–845.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Chong WK, Sweeney B, Wilkinson ID, et al.Proton spectroscopy of the brain in HIV infection: correlation with clinical, immunologic, and MR imaging findings. Radiology, 1993; 188: 119–124.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Constants JM, Meyerhoff DJ, Norman D, et al.H-1 and P-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging of white matter signal hypeintensity areas in elderly subjects. Neuroradiology, 1995; 37: 615–623.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Davie CA, Hawkins CP, Barker GJ, et al.Serial proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in acute multiple sclerosis lesions. Brain, 1994; 117: 49–58.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. De Stefano N, Genge A, Karpati G, Matthews PM, Arnold DL.Improvement of cerebral metabolism in patients with mitochondrial disorders by Dichloroacetate (DCA) treatment. Neurology, 1995a; 45: 1193–1198.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. De Stefano N, Matthews PM, Antel JP, Preul M, Francis G, Arnold DL.Chemical-pathology of acute demyelinating lesion and its correlation with disability. Ann. Neurol., 1995b; 38: 901–909.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. De Stefano N, Matthews PM, Federico A, Arnold DL.Brain N-acetylaspartate as an index of central nervous system impairment in brain white matter disorders. Eur J. Neurol., 1996; 3: 64.

    Google Scholar 

  17. De Stefano N, Matthews PM, Narayanan S, Francis GS, Antel JP, Arnold DL.Axonal dysfunction and disability in a relapse of multiple sclerosis: longitudinal study of a patient. Neurology, 1997; In Press.

  18. De Stefano N, Matthews PM, Arnold DL.Reversible decreases in N-acetylaspartate following acute brain injury. Mag Res Med, 1995; 34: 721–727.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Federico A.Classification of leukodystrophies. Mol. Chem. Neuropathol., 1996; 27: 3–4.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Ferguson B, Matyszak MK, Esiri MM, Perry VH.Axonal damage in acute multiple sclerosis lesions. Brain, 1997; 120: 393–399.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Hachinski VC, Potter P, Merskey H.Leuko-araiosis. Arch. Neurol, 1987; 44: 21–23.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Hanefeld F, Holzbach U, Kruse B, Wilichowski E, Christen HJ, Frahm J.Diffuse white matter disease in three children: an encephalopathy with unique features on magnetic resonance imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Neuropediatrics, 1993; 24: 244–248.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Husted CA, Goodin DS, Hugg JW, et al.Biochemical alterations in multiple sclerosis lesions and normal-appearing white matter detected by in vivo 31P and 1H spectroscopic imaging. Ann. Neurol., 1994; 36: 157–165.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Johannik K, van Hecke P, Francois B, et al.Localized brain proton NMR spectroscopy in young adult phenylketonuria patients. Magn. Reson. Med., 1994; 31: 53–57.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Lolodny EH.Dysmyelinating and demyelinating conditions in infancy. [Review]. Curr. Opin. Neurol. Neurosurg., 1993; 6: 379–386.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Koopmans RA, Li DK, Zhu G, Allen PS, Penn A, Paty DW.Magnetic resonance spectroscopy of multiple sclerosis: in-vivo detection of myelin breakdown products [letter]. Lancet, 1993; 341: 631–632.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Kruse B, Hanefeld F, Christen HJ, et al.Alterations of brain metabolites in metachromatic leukodystrophy as detected by localized proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in vivo. J. Neurol., 1993; 241: 68–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Kruse B, Barker PB, van Zijl PC, Duyn JH, Moonen CT, Moser HW.Multislice proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. Ann. Neurol., 1994; 36: 595–608.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Leutner C, Layer G, Zierz S, Solymosi L, Dewes W, Reiser M.Cerebral MR in ophthalmoplegia plus. Ajnr: Am. J. Neuroradiol., 1994; 15: 681–687.

    Google Scholar 

  30. MacKay S, Meyerhoff DJ, Constants JM, Norman D, Fein G, Weiner MW.Regional gray and white matter metabolite differences in subjects with AD, with subcortical ischemic vascular dementia, and elderly controls with 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging. Arch. Neurol., 1996; 53: 167–174.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Marks HG, Caro PA, Wang ZY, et al.Use of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and localized 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy in Canavan's disease: a case report. Ann. Neurol., 1991; 30: 106–110.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Matthews PM, Allaire C, Shoubridge EA, Karpati G, Carpenter S, Arnold DL.In vivo muscle magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the clinical investigation of mitochondrial disease. Neurology, 1991; 41: 114–120.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Matthews PM, Francis G, Antel J, Arnold DL,Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy for metabolic characterization of plaques in multiple sclerosis [published erratum appears in Neurology 1991 Nov; 41(11):1828]. Neurology, 1991; 41: 1251–1256.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Natthews PM, Andermann F, Silver K, Karpati G, Arnold DL.Proton MR spectroscopic characterization of differences in regional brain metabolic abnormalities in mitochondrial encephalomyopathies. Neurology, 1993; 43: 2484–2490.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. McDonald WI.Rachelle Fishman-Matthew Moore Lecture. The pathological and clinical dynamics of multiple sclerosis. [Review]. J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol., 1994; 53: 338–343.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Menon DK, Baudouin CJ, Tomlinson D, Hoyle C.Proton MR spectroscopy and imaging of the brain in AIDS: evidence of neuronal loss in regions that appear normal with imaging. J. Comput. Assist. Tomogr., 1990; 14: 882–885.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Meyer JS, Kawamura J, Terayama Y.White matter lesions in the elderly. [Review]. J. Neurol. Sci., 1992; 110: 1–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Miller DH, Albert PS, Barkhof F, et al.Guidelines for the use of magnetic resonance techniques in monitoring the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Ann. Neurol., 1996a; 39: 6–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Miller DH, Albert PS, Barkhof F, et al.Guidelines for the use of magnetic resonance techniques in monitoring the treatment of multiple sclerosis. US National MS Society Task Force. Ann Neurol, 1996b; 39: 6–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Moffett JR, Namboodiri MAA, Cangro CB, Neale JH.Immunohistochemical localization of N-acetylaspartate in rat brain. NeuroReport, 1991; 2: 131–134.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Nakai A, Goto Y, Fujisawa K, et al.Diffuse leukodystrophy with a large-scale mitochondrial DNA deletion. Lancet, 1994; 343: 1397–1398.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Narayanan S, Fu L, Pioro E, et al.Imaging of axonal damage in multiple sclerosis: spatial distribution of magnetic resonance imaging lesions. Ann. Neurol., 1997; 41: 385–391.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Petroff OA, Graham GD, Blamire AM, et al.Spectroscopic imaging of stroke in humans: histopathology correlates of spectral changes. Neurology, 1992; 42: 1349–1354.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Prineas JW, Connell F.The fine structure of chronically active multiple sclerosis plaques. Neurology, 1978; 28 (Suppl.2): 68–75.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Raine CS, Cross AH.Axonal dystrophy as a consequence of long-term demyelination. Lab. Invest., 1989; 60: 714–725.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Rodriguez M, Scheithauer B.Ultrastructure of multiple sclerosis. Ultrastruct. Pathol., 1994; 18: 3–13.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Schmidt R, Hayn M, Fazekas F, Kapeller P, Esterbauer H.Magnetic resonance imaging white matter hyperintensities in clinically normal elderly individuals. Correlations with plasma concentrations of naturally occurring antioxidants. Stroke, 1996; 27: 2043–2047.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Simmons ML, Frondoza CG, Coyle JT.Immunocytochemical localization of N-acetyl-aspartate with monoclonal antibodies. Neuroscience, 1991; 45: 37–45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Smith RR, Hendrie HC.Leuko-araiosis: description and clinical correlates. Compr. Ther., 1992; 18: 7–16.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Strandgaard S, Paulson OB.Cerebrovascular damage in hypertension. [Review]. J. Cardiovasc. Risk, 1995; 2: 34–39.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Tedeschi G, Schiffmann R, Barton NW, et al.Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging in childhood ataxia with diffuse central nervous system hypomyelination. Neurology, 1995; 45: 1526–1532.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Tzika AA, Ball WS, Jr, Vigneron DB, Dunn RS, Nelson SJ, Kirks DR.Childhood adrenoleukodystrophy: assessment with proton MR spectroscopy. Radiology, 1993; 189: 467–480.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. van der Knaap MS, Valk J, De Neeling N, Nauta JJ.Pattern recognition in magnetic resonance imaging of white matter disorders in children and young adults. Neuroradiology, 1991; 33: 478–493.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. van der Knaap MS, van der Grond J, Luyten PR, den Hollander JA, Nauta JJP, Valk J.1H and 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the brain in degenerative cerebral disorders. Ann Neurol, 1992; 31: 202–211.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. van der Knaap MS, Barth PG, Stroink H, et al.Leukoencephalopathy with swelling and a discrepantly mild clinical course in eight children. Ann. Neurol., 1995a; 37: 324–334.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. van der Knaap MS, Valk J, Barth PG, Smit LM, van Engelen BG, Tortori Donati P.Leukoencephalopathy with swelling in children and adolescents: MRI patterns and differential diagnosis. Neuroradiology, 1995b; 37: 679–686.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. van der Knaap MS, Valk J.Progress in MR pattern recognition of unclassified white matter disorders. Riv. Neuroradiol., 1996; 9: 789–794.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Vion-Dury J, Nicoli F, Salvan AM, et al.Reversal of brain metabolic alterations with zidovudine detected by proton localised magnetic resonance spectroscopy [letter]. Lancet, 1995; 345: 60–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Wilkinson ID, Miller RF, Miszkiel KA, et al.Cerebral proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in asymptomatic HIV infection. AIDS, 1997; 11: 289–295.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Neurometabolic Unit, Institute of Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Viale Bracci 2, 53100, Siena, Italy

    Stefano N. De & Federico A.

  2. Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Unit, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Stefano N. De & Arnold D. L.

Authors
  1. Stefano N. De
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Federico A.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Arnold D. L.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The study was supported in part by grants from the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and from the Progetto Sclerosi Multipla of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

De Stefano, N., Federico, A. & Arnold, D.L. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in brain white matter disorders. Ital J Neuro Sci 18, 331–339 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02048236

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02048236

Key words

  • White matter
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Leukodystrophy
  • Magnetic resonance
  • Spectroscopy