title: [Metabolism of N-acetyl-L-aspartate: its diagnostic and prognostic value].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the clinical involvement of the amino acid N-acetyl-L-aspartate (NAA) and the peptide N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate (NAAG) regarding their diagnostic and prognostic value by means of magnetic resonance spectroscopy. To conduct a review of the metabolism of NAA and NAAG, bearing in mind their chemical structure and physiology, in terms of the variations in their concentration and the correlation with the clinical features.
  
  
  METHODS
  The review is divided into two parts: in one it was found that the only site where NAA synthesis takes place is in the neuronal mitochondria, while the second part addresses magnetic resonance and, especially, spectroscopic techniques. An array of pathologies were analysed in search of criteria that allow diagnostic and prognostic guidelines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study of the most abundant amino acid in the central nervous system (NAA) together with a product of its metabolism, NAAG, allows the diagnosis and follow-up of a variety of pathologies. At the same time, it makes it easier to obtain data about the density of the cell population and its vitality, thus also providing access to the functional status of the synapses.
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Manuel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Néstor V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Florenzano
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Esteban A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Macchia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate