Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy In Children Research Articles

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with some neurological and mental disorders accompanied by mental and speech development delay: a prospective study

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with some neurological and mental disorders accompanied by mental and speech development delay: a prospective study

Brain metabolic profile assessed by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in ‎‎children with Down syndrome: Relation to intelligence quotient.

Down syndrome (DS) is one of the most common causes of intellectual disability. Children with DS have varying intelligence quotient (IQ) that can predict their learning abilities. To assess the brain metabolic profiles of children with DS and compare them to standard controls, using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and correlating the results with IQ. This case-control study included 40 children with DS aged 6-15 years and 40 age and sex-matched healthy children as controls. MRS was used to evaluate ratios of choline/creatine (Cho/Cr), N-acetyl aspartic acid/creatine (NAA/Cr), and myoinositol/creatine (MI/Cr (in the frontal, temporal, and occipital lobes and basal ganglia and compared to controls and correlated with IQ. Children with DS showed significant reductions in NAA/Cr and MI/Cr and a non-significant reduction in Cho/Cr in frontal lobes compared to controls. Additionally, we observed significant decreases in NAA/Cr, MI/Cr, and Cho/Cr in the temporal and occipital lobes and basal ganglia in children with DS compared to controls. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between IQ and metabolic ratios in the brains of children with DS. Brain metabolic profile could be a good predictor of IQ in children with DS.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with delayed mental and speech development associated with focal temporal lobe epilepsy

Background. The delays in mental and speech development are caused by epilepsy, and a special place among the forms of which is focal temporal epilepsy. The study of biomarkers of the considered pathological condition using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy as indicators amenable to objective assessment and measurement determines the practical relevance of this work.
 Aim. The aim of the study was to determine the role and place of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in clinical practice in children with mental and speech retardation associated with temporal lobe epilepsy.
 Materials and methods. 37 children aged 2 to 10 years were studied. Of these, 15 children with a diagnosis of mental and speech development delay, structural focal temporal epilepsy were included in the first comparison group. The second comparison group consisted of 12 children without CNS pathology undergoing 1H-MRI examination to exclude somatic diseases. The third comparison group consisted of 10 children with structural focal temporal epilepsy, without mental and speech development delay.
 Discussion. Multivoxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (method PRESS) was used to determine the concentration of neurometabolites in the brain tissues of patients. In patients with mental and speech development delay associated with temporal epilepsy, a decrease in the ratio of NAA/Cr concentrations (p 0.05) was revealed in the postcentral gyrus on the right, temporal lobe on the right and hippocampus and inner capsule on both sides, due to a decrease in the concentration of N-acetylaspartate; an increase in the ratio of Cho/Cr concentrations (p 0.05) in the prefrontal cortex, postcentral gyrus and inner capsule on both sides, due to an increase in the concentration of choline. Two patients also showed lipid peaks on the lesion side when compared with EEG data.
 Conclusions. The revealed metabolic changes in patients with delayed mental and speech development associated with temporal lobe epilepsy may be useful as an additional method of differential diagnosis with other forms of mental and speech development delay.

Age-related parietal GABA alterations in children with autism spectrum disorder.

GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, and is essential to the balance of cortical excitation and inhibition. Reductions in GABA are proposed to result in an overly excitatory cortex that may cause, or contribute to, symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study employed a cross-sectional design to explore GABA+ differences in ASD and the impact of age, comparing 4-12 year olds with ASD (N=24) to typically developing children (N=35). GABA+ concentration was measured using edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the left parietal lobe. This study used a mixed model to investigate group differences between children with ASD and typically developing children. There was a significant difference in GABA+ levels between the groups, a significant effect of age and interaction between age and diagnostic group. The ASD group showed an association between GABA+ and age, with GABA+ levels gradually increasing with age (r=0.59, p=0.003). Typically developing children did not show age-related change in GABA+ concentration (r=0.09, p =0.60). By the age of 9, children with ASD showed GABA+ levels that were comparable to their typically developing peers. This study suggests that children with ASD have initially lower levels of GABA+ in the left parietal lobe compared to typically developing children, and that these initially lower levels of GABA+ increase with age in ASD within this region. It is suggested that this developmental shift of GABA+ levels within the left parietal lobe provides a possible explanation for the previously found reductions in childhood that does not persist in adults. LAY SUMMARY: This study measured levels of GABA in the left parietal lobe using magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with ASD and typically developing children. GABA levels were initially lower in the ASD group, and increased with age, while GABA did not change with age in the typically developing group. This suggests that alterations in GABA signaling may be associated with ASD in childhood. Autism Res 2021, 14: 859-872. © 2021 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with atypical autism comorbid with psychomotor disinhibition syndrome

To study the relationship of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) metabolism and choline (Cl) metabolism in different parts of the brain based on magnetic resonance spectrography (1H-MRS) with clinical manifestations of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Twenty-two children (16 boys, 6 girls), aged 2-10 years, were studied. Russian-language adapted versions of the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) and the Nisonger Child Behavior Rating Form (NCBRF) were administered. The ratio of metabolites NAA/creatine (Cr), Cho/Cr, Cho/NAA in the prefrontal cortex, postcentral gyrus and temporal lobes was studied using 1H-MRS. The following correlations were found: 1) between the NAA/Cr value and the Sensory/Cognitive Awareness scale in the prefrontal cortex on the left (ρ=0.479) and on the right (ρ=0.483); the Health/Physical Behavior scale in the precentral gyrus on the left (ρ=0.572) and on the right (ρ=0.463); the Sociability scale in the temporal lobe on the left (ρ=0.481) and on the right (ρ=0.796); the Speech/Language/Communication scale in the right temporal lobe (ρ=-0.552); 2) between the Cho/Cr value and the Adaptive Social scale in the postcentral gyrus on the left (ρ=-0.466) and on the right (ρ=-0.518); the Compliant/Calm scale in the prefrontal cortex on the right (ρ=0.624) and on the left (ρ=-0.541); 3) between the Cho/NAA ratio and the Speech/Language/Communication scale in the right pre-central (ρ=-0.471) and post-central gyrus (ρ=-0.507); the Self-Isolated/Ritualistic» scale in the left (ρ=-0.486) and right temporal lobe (ρ=-0.596). Thus, the predominant localization of disorders of N-acetylaspartate metabolism in communication disorders (bilaterally in the temporal lobes), cognitive, behavioral and somatic manifestations (bilaterally in the prefrontal regions) was established. Increased CI metabolism has identified deficits in interaction skills in both postcentral gyrus, and reveals bilateral differences in the effect on behavioral control in the prefrontal cortex. The results confirm the previously established numerous patterns between abnormal activation of the prefrontal cortex and neuronal dysfunction in ASD. But unlike other studies, it was possible to trace these relationships within a narrower phenotype of disorders - atypical autism comorbid with psychomotor disinhibition.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Children With Developmental Delay: Time to Look Beyond Conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Developmental delay (DD) is an important long-term neuromorbidity owing to various insults to the developing brain and neuroimaging plays a key role in evaluating these children. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is the only noninvasive method to determine the levels of various metabolites in the brain which aids in delineating the underlying abnormalities. A total of 48 children aged between 6 months to 6 years with developmental delay were included and evaluated with neuroimaging in our study. Sensitivity of MRS in children with DD and DD plus (DD along with seizures, abnormal motor findings, behavior, brainstem evoked response audiometry, visual assessment, and microcephaly) was 81.2% and 89.6% respectively. 86.6% of children with microcephaly had abnormal MRS. MRS detected abnormalities in two-thirds of children with normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Children with behavioral abnormalities had significantly lower N-acetyl aspartate (NAA)-creatine and NAA-choline ratios on MRS. Thus, MRS is additive to MRI in delineating the underlying pathophysiology in children with DD.

MR spectroscopy in children: protocols and pitfalls in non-tumorous brain pathology.

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) delivers information about cell content and metabolism in a noninvasive manner. The diagnostic strength of MRS lies in its evaluation of pathologies in combination with conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRS in children has been most widely used to evaluate brain conditions like tumors, infections, metabolic diseases or learning disabilities and especially in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. This article reviews some basic theoretical considerations, routine procedures, protocols and pitfalls and will illustrate the range of spectrum alterations occurring in some non-tumorous pediatric brain pathologies.

Proton MRS imaging in pediatric brain tumors.

Magnetic resonance (MR) techniques offer a noninvasive, non-irradiating yet sensitive approach to diagnosing and monitoring pediatric brain tumors. Proton MR spectroscopy (MRS), as an adjunct to MRI, is being more widely applied to monitor the metabolic aspects of brain cancer. In vivo MRS biomarkers represent a promising advance and may influence treatment choice at both initial diagnosis and follow-up, given the inherent difficulties of sequential biopsies to monitor therapeutic response. When combined with anatomical or other types of imaging, MRS provides unique information regarding biochemistry in inoperable brain tumors and can complement neuropathological data, guide biopsies and enhance insight into therapeutic options. The combination of noninvasively acquired prognostic information and the high-resolution anatomical imaging provided by conventional MRI is expected to surpass molecular analysis and DNA microarray gene profiling, both of which, although promising, depend on invasive biopsy. This review focuses on recent data in the field of MRS in children with brain tumors.

Glutamatergic dysregulation in pediatric psychiatric disorders: a systematic review of the magnetic resonance spectroscopy literature.

As the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, glutamate plays a critical role in normal brain function; thus, its dysregulation could lead to psychopathology in youth. A growing body of literature has investigated the role of glutamate in the pathophysiology of childhood psychiatric disorders through magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The aim of this study was to review the existing literature to gauge the specificity of such findings. PubMed was searched for all scientific, peer-reviewed articles published in English that included MRS measurements of glutamatergic metabolites in pediatric psychiatric populations through August 14, 2013. 50 articles were included in this review. These studies included measurements of glutamate or related metabolites with MRS in children with psychiatric disorders. All relevant data (eg, population; number, sex, and age of subjects; method of comparison; treatment history; MRS Tesla; brain regions of interest; glutamatergic findings; other findings; and comorbidities) were extracted from the included articles. The direction and significance of glutamate dysregulation and brain region(s) examined were used to compare the studies. Most consistently, increases in glutamatergic metabolites were found in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and other regions in youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Limited data suggested increases in glutamatergic metabolites in youth with autism spectrum disorders, emotional dysregulation, and high risk for schizophrenia and decreases in youth with major depression, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. There was limited but consistent evidence for normalization of glutamatergic levels with treatment, particularly in bipolar disorder and ADHD. A relatively small number of studies have examined the role of glutamatergic dysregulation in pediatric psychiatric disorders. Some consistencies can be found, but interpretation of the data is limited by differences in methodology, including age of subjects, severity of current symptoms, treatment, and scanning parameters.

Lactate peak on brain MRS in children with syndromic mitochondrial diseases

Background Brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been reported to be a valuable noninvasive tool in the diagnosis of some rare diseases. In this study, our aim was to assess lactate peak on single-voxel proton MRS in children with syndromic mitochondrial diseases (MDs). Methods From March 2004 to November 2010, 14 patients who were diagnosed with syndromic MDs underwent single-voxel proton MRS examination. The volume of interest was positioned on axial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and voxels were sampled using short (35 milliseconds), intermediate (144 milliseconds), or long (288 milliseconds) echo times for determination of lactate at 1.33 parts/million. Results Twelve of fourteen patients (85.7%) exhibited lactate peaks on the initial single-voxel proton MRS, and all of them showed abnormal MRI findings. The correlations of lactate level in blood and lactate peak on single-voxel proton MRS were inconsistent. Among the 12 patients, eight (66.7%) had corresponding elevated levels of blood lactate, and four (33.3%) had normal levels of blood lactate. Compared with a positive rate of 85.7% for patients with lactate peaks on the single-voxel proton MRS, the positive rates for diagnosing syndromic MDs by using electron microscopic examination of muscle biopsy, oral glucose lactate stimulation test, and blood lactate level were 100%, 91.7%, and 71.4%, respectively. Conclusion Lactate acquisition on single-voxel proton MRS provides a noninvasive and complementary tool for the diagnosis of syndromic MDs, especially in children with abnormal signal changes on the brain MRI or a normal blood lactate level.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

To analyze the metabolic constitution of brain areas through proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children affected with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder compared with normal children. The sample of this case-control study included eight boys with epidemiologic history of in utero exposure to alcohol (median age 13.6+/-3.8 years) who were diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and eight controls (median age 12.1+/-3,4 years). An 8 cm(3) single voxel approach was used, with echo time 30 ms, repetition time 1500 ms, and 128 acquisitions in a 1.5T scanner, and four brain areas were analyzed: anterior cingulate, left frontal lobe, left striatum, and left cerebellar hemisphere. Peaks and ratios of metabolites N-acetylaspartate, choline, creatine, and myo-inositol were measured. Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder showed a decrease in choline/creatine ratio (p=0.020) in left striatum and an increase in myo-inositol/creatine ratio (p=0.048) in left cerebellum compared with controls. There was no statistically significant difference in all peaks and ratios from the anterior cingulate and frontal lobe between the two groups. This study found evidence that the left striatum and left cerebellum are affected by intrauterine exposure to alcohol. Additional studies with larger samples are necessary to expand our knowledge of the effects of fetal exposure to alcohol.

Progress of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with convulsions

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Increased Medial Thalamic Creatine-Phosphocreatine Found by Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Children With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Versus Major Depression and Healthy Controls

Altered brain creatine-phosphocreatine levels might reflect changes in brain energy use and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive disorder and major depressive disorder. We used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure absolute concentrations of creatine-phosphocreatine in the right and left medial thalami in 18 pediatric patients with major depressive disorder 9 to 17 years of age, 18 case-matched healthy controls, and 27 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder 7 to 16 years old. The two patient groups were psychotropic drug naive and were not comorbid for the diagnosis of the comparison group. We found significantly increased left and right medial thalamic creatine-phosphocreatine concentrations in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder compared with both healthy controls and patients with major depression. Creatine-phosphocreatine concentrations did not differ significantly between patients with major depression and healthy controls. Our data suggest that increased medial thalamic creatine-phosphocreatine concentrations in patients with untreated obsessive-compulsive disorder reflect altered energy use in the medial thalamus and might differentiate patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder from healthy controls and patients with major depression. Although these results must be considered preliminary, further study of the diagnostic specificity of creatine-phosphocreatine in obsessive-compulsive disorder is indicated.

Brain metabolite changes on proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus

The metabolite changes in the brains of children with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) were investigated by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). A total of 30 subjects and 14 age-matched healthy volunteers underwent single-voxel MRS (TE: 136). The duration of disease, medication, presence of hypoglycaemia episodes and the level of haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) in the patients were noted. Voxels were placed in the pons, left basal ganglion (LBG) and left posterior parietal white matter (PPWM). N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatinine (Cr) and choline (Cho)/Cr ratios were calculated. The average HbA1c level was 11.9 +/- 3.4 (8.2-19.4). The average number of keto-acidosis episodes was 1.9 +/- 2.2 (0-9) and the average number of daily insulin injections was 2.8 +/- 0.97 (2-4). MRS revealed lower NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr ratios in the pons and lower NAA/Cr ratio in the PPWM of patients with DM than in control subjects. No significant correlation was observed between the number of hypoglycaemia episodes and metabolite ratios. Metabolic abnormalities have been observed by MRS in the brain of poorly controlled type 1 DM children. These metabolic changes, in particular in the pons region, include a decrease in NAA, indicating neuronal loss or functional impairment, and likely explanations for a decrease in Cho may be dynamic changes in membrane lipids and/or decreased membrane turnover.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with spastic diplegia

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with spastic diplegia

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with spastic diplegia

The objective of this prospective study was the application of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with spastic diplegia (SD) to determine the metabolite profile of SD children in the left basal ganglia, and to assess the relationship of this profile with motor and mental development. Patients with SD showed reduced ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr), NAA/choline (Cho), NAA/myo-inositol (mI), Cho/NAA, Cho/Cr and Cho/mI in the basal ganglia compared to a well-matched control group. On the other hand, we noted increased Cr/NAA, Cr/Cho and mI/NAA ratios in the SD patients as compared with controls. NAA/mI ratios were positively correlated with the severity scale of cerebral palsy in SD children. There was also a significant correlation between Cr/NAA and mental retardation. Increased Cr/NAA, Cr/Cho and mI/NAA ratios in SD children may suggest the existence of the compensatory mechanisms in these patients. The NAA/mI ratio could be used as an additional marker of SD severity and Cr/NAA as a marker of the mental retardation.

Brain proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children exposed to methamphetamine in utero.

To examine the possible neurotoxic effects of prenatal methamphetamine exposure on the developing brain using 1H-MRS. Methamphetamine-exposed children (n = 12) and age-matched unexposed control subjects (n = 14) were evaluated with MRI, localized 1H-MRS, and a Child Behavior Checklist. Metabolite concentrations of N-acetyl-containing compounds (NA), total creatine (Cr), choline-containing compounds, myoinositol, and glutamate + glutamine were measured in the frontal white matter and striatum. Despite an absence of visible structural abnormalities in either group, children exposed to methamphetamine in utero had higher [Cr] (+10%, p = 0.02) in the striatum. [NA], primarily a measure of N-acetylaspartate, was normal in both regions, which suggests no significant neuronal loss or damage in the two brain regions examined. There were no differences in reported behavior problems among the methamphetamine-exposed children relative to the unexposed group. The authors found increased [Cr] in the striatum with relatively normal [NA] in children exposed to methamphetamine. These findings suggest an abnormality in energy metabolism in the brains of children exposed to methamphetamine in utero.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with Moyamoya disease

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is an effective method to noninvasively investigate cerebral metabolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate cerebral metabolic changes in children with Moyamoya disease using proton MRS. A total of 11 patients under 15 years old were enrolled, whose main symptoms were transient ischemic attacks. In nine patients, the more and less affected hemispheres could be determined according to their symptoms and/or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). A single voxel point resolved spectroscopy was performed in the frontal or parietal white matter bilaterally by using 1.5 Tesla MR system (repetition time 2000 ms and echo time 272 ms). Voxels were located within areas that were normal on T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging. Choline (Cho), creatine (Cre) and N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) were semiquantitated as a metabolite value using an external standard reference. Pre-operative Cho, Cre and NAA values were within respective normal ranges. No metabolite showed a significant difference between the more and less affected hemispheres. A total of six patients were examined before and after revascularization surgery on one side. Pre- and post-operative comparisons demonstrated that all three metabolites showed statistically significant increases following surgery. These results suggest that, although the mechanism of spectroscopic changes needs to be further investigated, proton MRS provides a valuable method to evaluate cerebral metabolism in children with Moyamoya disease.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with temporal lobe epilepsy.

We performed proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the mesial temporal regions in 20 children with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy and compared results with those from 13 normal subjects. Abnormalities of the ratio of N-acetylaspartate to choline plus creatine (NAA/[Cho+Cr]) were seen in 15 patients (75%). The ratio NAA/(Cho+Cr) was correctly lateralizing in 55% and incorrectly lateralizing in none. Bilateral abnormalities were seen in 45%. Overall there was a unilateral decrease in N-acetylaspartate on the side ipsilateral to the seizure focus (mean 19% decrease vs normals, with 5% decrease on the contralateral side), suggesting neuronal loss or dysfunction. There was also a bilateral increase in creatine and choline (mean 18%), consistent with reactive astrocytosis. We conclude that proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy can contribute to lateralization of the seizure focus, and by detection of bilateral abnormalities, can contribute to the understanding of the underlying pathophysiology in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with acute central nervous system injury

Single voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1H-MRS) was used in 30 infants and children with acute central nervous system injuries to determine the value of changes in specific metabolite ratios in predicting outcome. The mean age of all patients was 38 ± 52 months and the mean time of study after insult was 7 ± 5 days. 1H-MRS was determined in the occipital gray and parietal white matter (8 cm 3 volume, STEAM sequence with TE = 20 ms, TR = 3,000 ms). Data were expressed as ratios of different metabolite peak areas including N-acetylaspartate (NA), choline-containing compounds (Ch), creatine and phosphocreatine (Cr), and lactate (Lac). Statistically significant differences were observed when patients with good/moderate ( G M ) outcomes (n = 17; mean age: 46 months) were compared to patients with bad outcomes (n = 10; mean age: 26 months). NA Cr and NA Ch were significantly lower in the bad outcome group ( NA Cr = 1.15 ± 0.38 ; NA Ch = 1.18 ± 0.52 ) compared to the G M group ( NA Cr = 1.41 ± 0.28 , P < .05; NA Ch = 1.98 ± 0.81 , P < .01). Lactate was present in 80% of bad outcome patients and in none of the G M group ( P < .0001). Using a linear discriminant analysis and combining 4 clinical variables (Glasgow Coma Scale score, initial pH and glucose, number of days unconscious at time of 1H-MRS) allows classification of 94% of patients into their correct outcome group. Use of spectroscopy variables ( NA Cr , NA Ch , Ch Cr , presence of lactate) alone correctly classified 81% of patients. The combination of clinical and 1H-MRS variables correctly classified 100% of patients. Our findings suggest that 1H-MRS adds information which, in combination with clinical examination, may be useful in outcome assessment in children with serious acute central nervous system injury.