[1H-MR spectroscopy in anorexia nervosa: reversible cerebral metabolic changes].
OBJECTIVE
By using localized 1H-MR spectroscopy in the brain of patients with anorexia nervosa we wanted to verify our preliminary results and to look for a reversibility of the metabolic changes under therapy.


METHODS
In 22 patients and 17 healthy volunteers (11 follow-up examinations) single voxel 1H-MR spectroscopy (TE = 50 ms, TM = 30 ms, TR = 1500 ms, voxel (2 cm)3, acq.: 256) was used in two different localizations (thalamus and parieto-occipital region). The first examination of the patients was performed before therapy, the follow-up examination at the end of therapy.


RESULTS
In both regions of the brain we found a statistically significant elevation of the Cho/Cr-ratio in comparison to normal controls. The follow-up examinations revealed reversibility of the metabolic changes under successful therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
1H-MR spectroscopy reveals metabolic changes in the brain of patients with anorexia nervosa, which are reversible under successful therapy. These metabolic changes can be conclusively explained using a biochemical model.
Möckel
R
R
Institut für Klinische Radiologie, Klinikum Mannheim gGmbH, Universitätsklinikum, Fakultät für Klinische Medizin Mannheim, Universität Heidelberg. moeckel@ikr.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Schlemmer
H P
HP
Gückel
F
F
Göpel
C
C
Becker
G
G
Köpke
J
J
Hentschel
F
F
Schmidt
M
M
Georgi
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007294:Inositol / Q000378:metabolism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000378:metabolism; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism; D013788:Thalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D001224:Aspartic Acid; D007294:Inositol; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D002794:Choline