title: MR spectroscopy and atrophy in Gluten, Friedreich's and SCA6 ataxias.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous work using proton MR spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) of the cerebellum in the ataxias suggested that (1)H-MRS abnormalities and atrophy do not necessarily occur concurrently.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the spectroscopic features of different types of ataxias.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a clinical MR system operating at 1.5T, we performed (1)H-MRS with a single voxel placed over the right dentate nucleus in 22 patients with gluten ataxia (GA), six patients with Friedreich's ataxia (FA), six patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6) and 21 healthy volunteers. Atrophy of the vermis and hemispheres on standard MRI was rated by a neuroradiologist. Any interaction between atrophy and (1)H-MRS was analysed for the three groups of patients and controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with GA had significant atrophy of the vermis and hemispheres as well as abnormal (1)H-MRS. Patients with SCA6 had more severe overall atrophy of the vermis and hemispheres, but relatively preserved N-acetyl-aspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr). The FA group showed significant atrophy of only the superior vermis with normal (1)H-MRS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that (1)H-MRS of the cerebellum in patients with ataxia provides information in addition to the presence of atrophy. There are significant (1)H-MRS differences amongst different types of ataxia with interesting correlations between atrophy and NAA/Cr.
authors: Department of Neurology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK. m.hadjivassiliou@sheffield.ac.uk
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Hadjivassiliou
authors: L I
authors: LI
authors: Wallis
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Hoggard
authors: R A
authors: RA
authors: Grünewald
authors: P D
authors: PD
authors: Griffiths
authors: I D
authors: ID
authors: Wilkinson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005621:Friedreich Ataxia / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020754:Spinocerebellar Ataxias / Q000473:pathology*