Proton magnetic resonance imaging study on hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in patients with post-stroke depression

Abstract

Objective To identify the metabolite levels in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in patients with post-stroke depression by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). Methods Thirty-two patients with post-stroke depression were selected as the study group, thirty patients with stroke were selected as the case control group, and 30 health check cases were selected as the normal control group. A multi-voxel MRS was given to all the subjects on hippocampus and prefrontal cortex within 24 hours admitted in hospital. The NAA, Cho and Cr were measured and the ratios of NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr were determined. Spectral data were analyzed by t test, q test and Pearson correlation analysis. Results In left and right hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, the NAA/Cr ratio in the study group was lower than that in the case control group and in the normal control group (P all 0.05). In left and right hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, the NAA/Cr ratio in the severe depression group was lower than that in the mild depression group (all P 0.05). In left and right hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, the NAA/Cr ratio in the study group was negatively correlated with the HAMD scores (all P 0.05). In the three groups, there were no significant differences in NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr between bilateral (all P>0.05). Conclusions Abnormal metabolism of neurons in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex may be the neurobiological basis of post-stroke depression. The change of NAA/Cr, as a means of objective and quantitative detection, is potential to be used for screening and risk assessment of PSD patients. Key words: Post-stroke depression; Magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Hippocampus; Prefrontal cortex