title: Proton MR spectroscopy in herpes simplex encephalitis: assessment of neuronal loss.
abstract: We present here the case of an 11-year-old boy with herpes simplex encephalitis diagnosed on the basis of clinical features, serology, and response to acyclovir, who relapsed after 3 weeks of therapy. In vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) of the brain, at 8 and 16 weeks after the onset of symptoms, showed abnormalities, most prominently a reduction in the N-acetylaspartate/choline ratio. The role of 1H MRS in assessing disease activity is discussed.
authors.affiliation: NMR Unit, Hammersmith Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sargentoni
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Peden
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Coutts
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baudouin
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Newman
mesh_terms: D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002794:Choline; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D010725:Phosphocreatine; D011522:Protons; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D011522:Protons; D010725:Phosphocreatine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D002794:Choline