title: Rapid improvement in cortical neuronal integrity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis detected by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging.
abstract: Riluzole prolongs survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The temporal and spatial profile of its effect on the brain is unknown. We used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging to evaluate the neuronal response to 1 day of riluzole treatment in motor and non-motor regions of the brain. In 10 patients the N-acetylaspartate/total creatine (NAA/Cr) ratio increased in the precentral gyrus and supplementary motor area, but not in the post-central gyrus or parietal lobe. Improvement in cortical neuronal metabolic function in the motor cortex occurs early with riluzole treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, 2E3.18 WMC 8440-112 Street, Edmonton, T6G 2B7, Alberta, Canada. sanjay.kalra@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalra
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Genge
authors.forename: Douglas L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Arnold
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011522:Protons; D019782:Riluzole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011522:Protons; D019782:Riluzole