title: Prognostic value of 1H-MRS in perinatal CNS insults.
abstract: The authors studied 37 term neonates (38-42 gestational weeks) at 1-11 days after central nervous system insult to determine whether proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) of the occipital gray/parietal white matter was useful in predicting outcomes. Etiologies included asphyxia, 18; sepsis/meningitis, 8; metabolic disorders, 5; stroke, 4; and trauma, 2. 1H-MRS data (1.5T; 8 cm3 vol, stimulated echo acquisition mode sequence, TE = 20 ms, TR = 3000 ms) were expressed as metabolite peak area ratios (NAA/Cr, NAA/Cho, Cho/Cr) and the presence or absence of lactate. Outcomes were assessed at 6 to 12 months post-insult using the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Scale and were dichotomized as follows: good/moderate outcome (good, mild or moderate disability) or poor outcome (severe disability, persistent vegetative state, death). Neonates with poor outcomes had significantly lower NAA/Cho and significantly higher Cho/Cr ratios in the occipital region, as compared with patients with good/moderate outcomes. No neonates with good/moderate outcomes had metabolite ratios that exceeded 2 standard deviations from the mean. In addition, the absence of lactate on 1H-MRS correlated with a good/moderate outcome. The study also showed that 1H-MRS metabolite ratio data, added to either the Sarnat or EEG scores, enhanced the correlation between these prognostic factors and outcomes. 1H-MRS provides additional objective data early after a wide variety of perinatal neurologic insults to enhance outcome prediction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, California 92354, USA.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashwal
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Holshouser
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nystrom
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Hinshaw
mesh_terms: D001034:Apgar Score; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000378:metabolism*; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D011522:Protons; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D011522:Protons