title: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy reveals medial temporal metabolic abnormalities in adolescents with history of preterm birth.
abstract: Prematurity is associated with volumetric reductions in specific brain areas such as the hippocampus and with metabolic changes that can be detected by spectroscopy. Short echo time (35 ms) Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) was performed to assess possible medial temporal lobe metabolic abnormalities in 21 adolescents with preterm birth (mean age: 14.8, SD: 1.3) compared with an age-matched control sample (mean age: 14.8, SD: 1.6). 1H MRS spectra were analyzed with linear combination model fitting, obtaining the absolute metabolite concentrations for Creatine (Cr), and myo-inositol (Ins). In addition, the following metabolite sums were measured: total Cho (glycerophospho-choline + phosphocholine), total N-acetyl-aspartate + N-acetyl-aspartylglutamate (NA), and total Glx (glutamate + glutamine). A stereological analysis was performed to calculate hippocampal volume. Absolute Cr, and total NA values were decreased in the preterm group (p = 0.016; p = 0.002, respectively). The preterm also showed a hippocampal reduction (p < 0.0001). Significant relationships were found between gestational age and different metabolites and the hippocampal volume. Moreover, hippocampal volume correlated with brain metabolites in the whole sample. Results demonstrate that prematurity affects medial temporal lobe metabolites, and that the alteration is related to structural changes, suggesting that the cerebral changes persist until adolescence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gimenez
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soria-Pastor
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Junque
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Caldu
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narberhaus
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Botet
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bargallo
authors.forename: Carles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Falcon
authors.forename: Josep Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mercader
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011522:Protons; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004151:Dipeptides; D011522:Protons; C027172:isospaglumic acid; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine