MRS study of the effects of minocycline on markers of neuronal and microglial integrity in ALS.
OBJECTIVE
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) allows to monitor brain metabolites noninvasively in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The objective of this study was to use MRS to monitor the effect of minocycline treatment (200 mg/day) over a short period (6 weeks) on the brain metabolites in the precentral gyrus and brainstem in newly diagnosed ALS patients.


METHODS
Ten ALS patients (not on riluzole treatment) were recruited and submitted to single-voxel proton MRS longitudinal examinations (1) before minocycline treatment, (2) 3 weeks and (3) 6 weeks after initiation of treatment.


RESULTS
Results did not show the expected decrease of N-acetylaspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr) in the precentral gyrus, and an increased NAA/Cr ratio in the brainstem suggested neuronal recovery. The myo-inositol (mI)/Cr ratio was unchanged in the precentral gyrus, but increased in the brainstem, indicating a glial reaction.


CONCLUSIONS
MRS results suggest that minocycline treatment could be beneficial in the early stages of ALS.
Khiat
Abdesslem
A
Département de Radiologie, Hôpital Saint-Luc du CHUM, Montréal, Canada H2X 3J4.
D'Amour
Monique
M
Souchon
Frédérique
F
Boulanger
Yvan
Y
D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008911:Minocycline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D008911:Minocycline