title: MRS study of the effects of minocycline on markers of neuronal and microglial integrity in ALS.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Département de Radiologie, Hôpital Saint-Luc du CHUM, Montréal, Canada H2X 3J4.
authors.forename: Abdesslem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khiat
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Amour
authors.forename: Frédérique
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Souchon
authors.forename: Yvan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Boulanger
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D008911:Minocycline