[Cerebral metabolic disturbance in hypoxic encephalopathy: evaluation with H-1 MR spectroscopy].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze metabolic changes in the brain during hypoxic encephalopathy.


METHODS
MR imaging (MRI) and H-1 MR spectroscopy (H-1 MRS) were performed on three patients with hypoxic encephalopathy, who had need temporary mechanical ventilation, and five healthy age-matched volunteers. Spectra were obtained from bilateral fronto-parietal gray matter and basal ganglia voxels. N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho) were analyzed.


RESULTS
(1) MRI; T1 weighted MRI revealed high signal intensity areas in the diffuse cerebral cortex and basal ganglia in two patients. The former was thought to reflect cortical laminar necrosis. T2-weighed MRI showed high signal intensity in diffuse white mate. (2) H-1 MRS; significant reduction of the NAA/ Cr ratio and elevation of the Cho/Cr ratio were detected.


CONCLUSIONS
H-1 MRS is able to quantify metabolic alterations in the hypoxic encephalopathy.
Suzuki
S
S
Department of Internal Medicine, Kawasaki Municipal Hospital.
Ichijo
M
M
Fujii
H
H
Ikeda
K
K
Hitosugi
M
M
D000368:Aged; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male
D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline