title: Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of human brain after cardiac resuscitation.
abstract: We used 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study the cerebral metabolic function of eight patients with severe postischemic anoxic encephalopathy secondary to cardiac arrest. Spectroscopy was performed at 18 +/- 13 and 64 +/- 20 hours after resuscitation. Glasgow Coma Scale scores at the time of initial and repeat spectroscopy were 3.6 +/- 1.2 and 3.5 +/- 1.2, respectively. In those patients whose spectra were of adequate quality to monitor pH, all demonstrated tissue alkalosis in at least one brain region. The mean brain pH at initial spectroscopy was 7.14 +/- 0.09 and was significantly alkalotic when compared with age- and sex-matched normal controls (pH = 6.98 +/- 0.04, p less than 0.0001). Five of the eight patients showed at least one region of persistent alkalosis at repeat spectroscopy, whereas one patient demonstrated severe acidosis with a pH of 6.42. Spectra demonstrated marked metabolic heterogeneity, ranging from normal in appearance to complete obliteration of all high-energy phosphates with only inorganic phosphate remaining.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Paradis
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Helpern
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Welch
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus; D012151:Resuscitation
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D010725:Phosphocreatine; D010758:Phosphorus