Brain metabolism in hypothyroidism studied with 31P magnetic-resonance spectroscopy.
Metabolic consequences of hypothyroidism in adult human brain, despite neuropsychological symptoms, have not been reported. We used 31P nuclear magnetic-resonance spectroscopy of the frontal lobe to examine the effect of acute hypothyroidism on cerebral metabolism. Paired analysis showed that the phosphocreatine/inorganic-phosphate (PCr/Pi) ratio increased from a median of 2.04 (interquartile range 0.15) to 2.22 (0.25) after treatment with levothyroxine (p = 0.01). These reversible alterations in adult cerebral phosphate metabolism during acute hypothyroidism parallel PCr/Pi ratio changes described in skeletal muscle. This is the first direct evidence of cerebral metabolic effects of hypothyroidism on adult brain.
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Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington 40536.
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D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000378:metabolism; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D010710:Phosphates; D010725:Phosphocreatine; D013974:Thyroxine