Proton MR spectroscopy demonstration of taurine peaks in megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with cysts.
Taurine is an amino acid. It has roles in neurotransmitter activities, facilitates synaptic connections, and possesses cyto-protective properties. Normally, it is invisible on proton MR spectroscopy acquired at low field strengths (i.e. 1.5T). In a patient with megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with cysts (MLC), distinct taurine peaks centered at 3.35ppm were found on hybrid-CSI spectroscopy obtained at 1.5T with a long TE value (i.e. TE=135ms). This suggested increased concentrations of this metabolite in MLC. In this leukoencephalopathy taurine may be linked to a metabolic disturbance related with neurotransmitters associated with a disturbance in synaptic connections, and cyto-protective mechanisms. Further spectroscopic and clinical studies are required to evaluate this observation.
Sener
R N
RN
Department of Radiology, Ege University Hospital, Bornova, Izmir 35100, Turkey. rnsener@hotmail.com
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003560:Cysts / Q000378:metabolism*; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D013654:Taurine / Q000378:metabolism*
D013654:Taurine