Correlation between memory, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and interictal epileptiform discharges in temporal lobe epilepsy related to mesial temporal sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study described here was to examine the relationship between memory function, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) abnormalities, and interictal epileptiform discharge (IED) lateralization in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) related to unilateral mesial temporal sclerosis.


METHODS
We assessed performance on tests of memory function and intelligence quotient (IQ) in 29 right-handed outpatients and 24 controls. IEDs were assessed on 30-minute-awake and 30-minute-sleep EEG samples. Patients had (1)H-MRS at 1.5 T.


RESULTS
There was a negative correlation between IQ (P=0.031) and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test results (P=0.022) and epilepsy duration; between(1)H-MRS findings and epilepsy duration (P=0.027); and between N-acetylaspartate (NAA) levels and IEDs (P=0.006) in contralateral mesial temporal structures in the left MTS group. (1)H-MRS findings, IEDs, and verbal function were correlated.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that IEDs and NAA/(Cho+Cr) ratios reflecting neural metabolism are closely related to verbal memory function in mesial temporal sclerosis. Higher interictal activity on the EEG was associated with a decline in total NAA in contralateral mesial temporal structures.
Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Division of Neurology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo/UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil.
Marcele Araújo Silva
MA
Mantoan
Luís Otávio Sales Ferreira
LO
Caboclo
Laura Maria
LM
de Figueiredo Ferreira Guilhoto
Katia
K
Lin
Maria Helena
MH
da Silva Noffs
Ivanda
I
de Souza Silva Tudesco
Erich
E
Belzunces
Henrique
H
Carrete
Renato Tavares
RT
Bussoletti
Ricardo Silva
RS
Centeno
Américo Ceiki
AC
Sakamoto
Elza Márcia Targas
EM
Yacubian
D000328:Adult; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011522:Protons; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012598:Sclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
D011522:Protons; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline