Assessment of glutamate and glutamine contribution to in vivo N-acetylaspartate quantification in human brain by (1)H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Magn Reson Med. 2005 Dec;54(6):1333-9. doi: 10.1002/mrm.20703.

Abstract

N-Acetylaspartate (NAA) is one of the most important metabolites detectable by brain (1)H-MRS being considered an index of neuronal integrity. At the low magnetic field used in most clinical settings beta,gamma-glutamate/glutamine (Glx) resonances are very close and partially overlap the methyl-NAA resonance interfering with NAA quantification especially at low TE and in the presence of increased Glx signals. NAA overestimation due to Glx on a set of model solutions containing NAA, glutamate, and glutamine in variable amounts was evaluated and the result tested in vivo in six healthy controls and five age- and sex-matched patients with hepatic encephalopathy (HE), the latter having an increased Glx content. A method to assess in vivo the NAA overestimation caused by Glx is proposed. A perfect match was obtained between the assessment of Glx contamination on the NAA of healthy controls and that obtained on the model solutions. However, a substantial difference in NAA overestimation was found between controls and HE patients that cannot be explained by our model. An interpretative hypothesis is provided.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Aspartic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Aspartic Acid / analysis
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Female
  • Glutamic Acid / analysis*
  • Glutamine / analysis*
  • Hepatic Encephalopathy / diagnosis*
  • Hepatic Encephalopathy / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Glutamine
  • Aspartic Acid
  • Glutamic Acid
  • N-acetylaspartate