Multivoxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of the bilateral basal ganglia regions in unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy patients

LIU Lan; LIU Jun; XU Liang

doi:10.19300/j.2016.L4046

Abstract：Objebtive To detect the metabolic changes in the bilateral basal ganglia regions of unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with multivoxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Methods Ten patients with left temporal lobe epilepsy, ten patients with right temporal lobe epilepsy, and 10 healthy volunteers were selected. Unilateral TLE were diagnosed based on clinical onset symptoms and EEG. The Liverpool seizure severity scale (LSSS) 2.0 was measured from all patients. Multivoxel 1H-MRS data were acquired by SIEMENS 3.0 superconducting MR scanner. Concentrations of N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), and creatine (Cr) were measured symmetrically from bilateral head of caudate nucleus, putamen, and thalamus. The NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr ratios of each area of interest were calculated for inter-group statistical analysis. Pearson correlation analysis between metabolite ratios and LSSS 2.0 score were carried out. Results The NAA/Cr ratios of the left and right thalamus were 1.92 ±0.15 and 2.02 ±0.26, respectively, in the left TLE group;and 2.19 ±0.16 and 1.79±0.16, respectively, in the right TLE group. The ratios were significantly lower (P<0.05) than that of the control group which were 2.37±0.14 and 2.36±0.10, respectively. In the right TLE group, the NAA/Cr ratios of the ipsilateral thalamus was significant lower than that of the contralateral thalamus (1.79 ±0.16 vs 2.19 ±0.16, P<0.05). For TLE patients, the NAA/Cr ratios of the ipsilateral thalamus negatively correlated with LSSS 2.0 score (left TLE r=-0.667;right TLE r=-0.643, all P<0.05). Conclusion Patients with unilateral TLE have neuronal loss and/or dysfunction of bilateral thalamus, and both NAA/Cr ratios of the ipsilateral thalamus and LSSS 2.0 score can reflect the severity of seizures.