[Differences in the spectroscopy of the lesions of the remitting relapsing form of multiple sclerosis shown by magnetic resonance].
BACKGROUND
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system, characterized by the presence of inflammatory lesions.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the biochemical profile of the demyelinating lesions of the initial forms of MS (remitting relapsing) by analyzing the proton magnetic resonance spectra (1H MRS) to characterize the process of demyelination and relate it to the metabolites and clinical variables analyzed.


METHODS
We analyzed the largest demyelinating lesions in eight patients with remitting relapsing MS (RRMS) using the technique of single volume 1H MRS (VOI) with short echo time. The spectra of the white matter of two healthy control were used as reference.


RESULTS
NAA/Cr and NAA/Cho value ratios decrease and mI/Cr one increase in all spectra lesions as compared to healthy controls. In four of the eight patients, the Cho/Cr was higher than in the controls. Qualitative and quantitative differences in the resonances of macromolecules were observed, related to the biochemistry of the process of demyelination. These differences in NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, mI/Cr and macromolecules probably represent different stages in the evolution of the plaques.


CONCLUSIONS
MRS is a non invasive technique able to observe biochemical variations related to the evolution process of demyelination. Activity of the lesion is shown by the increment of resonances around 0.9 1.3 ppm. An increase in mI seems to occur at an early stage of demyelination and later the NAA is reduced. The initial forms of MS show metabolic alterations in the plaques which are similar to the most advanced forms of MS.
Departamento de Química-Física, Universidad de Valencia. Facultad de Psicología, Burjassot, 46100, España. Carmen.Martinez-Bisbal@uv.es
M C
MC
Martínez-Bisbal
B
B
Celda
L
L
Martí-Bonmat
B
B
Casanova-Estruch
F
F
Coret-Ferrer
D000328:Adult; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D008563:Membrane Lipids; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate