title: [(1)H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy on bilateral thalamus of patients with secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the changes of metabolites in the bilateral thalamus of patients with secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizure (SGTCS) and to explore the mechanism of SGTCS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with SGTCS (epilepsy group) and 30 matched healthy controls (control group) were examined by 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). The levels of N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline-containing compounds (Cho), creatine phosphocreatine (Cr-PCr), and myo-inositol (mI) of the bilateral thalamus were measured in both the epilepsy group and the control group. The ratios of NAA/Cr-PCr, NAA/(Cr-PCr+Cho), Cho/Cr-PCr and mI/Cr-PCr were compared and analyzed in the 2 groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ratios of NAA/Cr-PCr, and NAA/(Cr-PCr+Cho)(1.7074 ± 0.2214; 0.9333 ± 0.2173) in the left thalamus in the epilepsy group were significantly lower than those in the control group(1.8834 ±0.2093; 1.1243 ±0.2447)(P<0.05). The ratios of NAA/Cr-PCr, and NAA/(Cr- PCr+Cho) (1.7472 ±0.2439; 0.9165 ±0.2462) in the right thalamus in the epilepsy group were also significantly lower than those in the control group(1.8925 ± 0.2004; 1.0941 ± 0.2372)(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the ratios of NAA/Cr-PCr, NAA/(Cr-PCr+Cho), Cho/Cr- PCr, and mI/Cr-PCr between the bilateral thalamis in the epilepsy group (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is neuronal dysfunction in the bilateral thalamus in the epilepsy group. Abnormal changes of the bilateral thalamus are involved in the mechanism of SGTCS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: Mingyue
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shuyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Gaofeng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Weihua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Guoliang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002794:Choline / Q000032:analysis; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013788:Thalamus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D002794:Choline