title: Increased ratio of glutamate/glutamine to creatine in the right hippocampus contributes to depressive symptoms in patients with epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our study aimed to investigate whether the glutamatergic system in the hippocampus is correlated with depressive symptoms in patients with epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients with epilepsy were recruited and divided into three groups on the basis of their Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) scores. Single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) was carried out. Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were performed to investigate any correlation between the variables of hippocampal metabolites and HAMD scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis showed that the ratio of glutamate/glutamine to creatine (Glx/Cr) in the right hippocampus was significantly increased in patients with moderate depression and correlated positively with HAMD scores. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the ratio of Glx/Cr in the right hippocampus was an independent risk factor relating to depressive symptoms in patients with epilepsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A disturbance of the hippocampal glutamatergic system may be involved in the pathogenesis of depression in epilepsy.
authors: Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Wei-Feng
authors: WF
authors: Peng
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Ding
authors: Ling-Yan
authors: LY
authors: Mao
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Liang
authors: L
authors: Liang
authors: Cai-Zhong
authors: CZ
authors: Chen
authors: Wei-Zhong
authors: WZ
authors: Cheng
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Fan
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005973:Glutamine; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D003401:Creatine
keywords: Depression; Epilepsy; Glutamate; Glutamine; Magnetic resonance spectroscopy