J Korean Neurol Assoc.  2003 Dec;21(6):622-627.

The Change of Cerebral Metabolites in Patients with Parkinson's Disease Measured by Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

• Kim JK
• Kim BC
• Lee KR
• Song MK
• Park MS
• Kim MK
• Cho KH
• Seo JJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Parkinson's disease is a progressive, common neuro-degenerative disorder of the extrapyramidal system leading to specific motor symptoms, but there is no specific early diagnostic tool. This study was aimed to investigate the change of cerebral metabolites in patients with parkinson's disease by 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). METHODS: Eighteen patients with idiopathic unilateral symptomatic parkinson's disease underwent MRS study to compare metabolites of basal ganglia and thalamus, in ipsilateral and contralateral to the clinically affected side. RESULTS: In patients with unilateral symptomatic parkinson's disease, N-acetyl aspartate (NAA)/Creatine (Cr) ratio was significantly lower in contralateral side to the clinically affected side than in ipsilateral side (p=0.023). Other cerebral metabolites (Cho, mI, alpha-Glx, beta-Glx, lactate, lipid) were showed no significant difference in patients with parkinson's disease. CONCLUSIONS: The comparison and quantification of cerebral metabolites by using MRS may be helpful to diagnosis and investigation of parkinson's disease.

Keyword

Parkinson's disease; Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)

MeSH Terms

Aspartic Acid
Basal Ganglia
Diagnosis
Humans
Lactic Acid
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy*
Parkinson Disease*
Protons*
Thalamus
Aspartic Acid
Lactic Acid
Protons