Magnetic resonance spectroscopic abnormalities in sporadic and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
OBJECTIVE
To study the proton MR spectroscopic findings in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) (sporadic and variant).


METHODS
MR imaging and proton MR spectra were acquired in two patients with sporadic CJD (biopsy proven) and one patient with variant CJD.


RESULTS
The two patients with sporadic CJD demonstrated MR signal change within the basal ganglia and thalami and reduced N-acetylaspartate (NAA):creatine ratios. The patient with variant CJD showed characteristic signal change within the pulvinar of the thalami and a markedly reduced N-acetylaspartate:creatine ratio.


CONCLUSIONS
All three patients with CJD demonstrated evidence of reduced N-acetylaspartate: creatine ratios on MR spectroscopy. These changes imply that neuronal loss and/or dysfunction is a consistent finding in established CJD.
Pandya
H G
HG
Section of Academic Radiology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Floor C Glossop Road, Sheffield, UK. Hament@doctors.org.uk
Coley
S C
SC
Wilkinson
I D
ID
Griffiths
P D
PD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000378:metabolism; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D013788:Thalamus / Q000378:metabolism
D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine