title: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the monitoring of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: In addition to providing information on tissue structure, magnetic resonance (MR) technology offers the potential to investigate tissue metabolism and function. MR spectroscopy (MRS) offers a wealth of data on the biochemistry of a selected brain tissue volume, which represent potential surrogate markers for the pathology underlying multiple sclerosis (MS). In particular, the N-acetylaspartate peak in an MR spectrum is a putative marker of neuronal and axonal integrity, and the choline peak appears to reflect cell-membrane metabolism. On this basis, a diminished N-acetylaspartate peak is interpreted to represent neuronal/axonal dysfunction or loss, and an elevated choline peak represents heightened cell-membrane turnover, as seen in demyelination, remyelination, inflammation, or gliosis. Therefore, MRS may provide a unique tool to evaluate the severity of MS, establish a prognosis, follow disease evolution, understand its pathogenesis, and evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic interventions, which complements the information obtained from the various forms of assessment made by conventional MR imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Imaging, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, TX 77030, USA. ponnada.a.narayana@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Ponnada A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Narayana
mesh_terms: D001284:Atrophy; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology