title: Reversible brain creatine deficiency in two sisters with normal blood creatine level.
abstract: We describe a new creatine metabolism disorder in 2 young sisters who suffered from mental retardation and severe language delay. Blood examination, investigation of the most common neurometabolic disorders, and brain magnetic resonance imaging were normal. Diagnosis was established only by means of in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which disclosed generalized depletion of creatine in the brain. Creatine monohydrate oral administration led to almost complete brain creatine level restoration along with improvement of the patients' disabilities.
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology Department, S Chiara Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tosetti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fornai
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Alessandri'
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cipriani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Vito
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Canapicchi
mesh_terms: D001923:Brain Chemistry; D001928:Brain Diseases, Metabolic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003401:Creatine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009679:Nuclear Family; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003401:Creatine