Magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the thalamus in patients with typical absence epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate possible neuronal dysfunction of the thalamus in patients suffering from typical absence epilepsy, using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Special attention was paid to levels of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and creatine (Cr), and to the NAA/Cr ratio.


METHODS
MRS was performed over the right and left thalamus in nine patients suffering from typical absence epilepsy, and in nine sex- and age-matched healthy controls. All patients and controls were examined using a standard MRS-CSI (chemical shift imaging) technique.


RESULTS
Statistical analysis of the obtained data demonstrated a significantly lower thalamic NAA/Cr ratio in patients with typical absence epilepsy when compared to the healthy controls. Our MRS data showed symmetrical distribution of NAA/Cr ratio in the right and left thalamus within both the patient group and the group of healthy controls. No significant correlation between the patients' thalamic NAA/Cr values and the duration of the epilepsy or seizure frequency was revealed.


CONCLUSIONS
The present MRS data clearly indicate neuronal dysfunction in the thalami of patients with typical absence epilepsy. In agreement with other recent MRS findings in different idiopathic generalized epilepsy syndromes, our results confirm the role of the thalamus as an important structure in the pathogenesis of typical absence epilepsy.
Fojtiková
Dagmar
D
Brno Epilepsy Centre, Department of Neurology, Masaryk University, St. Anne's University Hospital, Pekarská 53, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic. dagmar.fojtikova@centrum.cz
Brázdil
Milan
M
Horký
Jaroslav
J
Mikl
Michal
M
Kuba
Robert
R
Krupa
Petr
P
Rektor
Ivan
I
D000328:Adult; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*
D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine