Relationship between cervical cord ¹H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy and clinoco-electromyographic profile in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Ikeda K et al. – The metabolite ratios were associated with disease progression and ongoing denervation in neck and hand muscles. C1–C3 cord H–magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H–MRS) might reflect anterior horn cell damage causing neck/arm weakness and respiratory dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients.

Methods

• C1-C3 cord ¹H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS) was performed in 19 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and 20 controls.
• N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline-containing compounds, creatine plus phosphocreatine (Cr) and myo-Inositol (m-Ins) were measured.
• ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were assessed.
• The rates of decline were calculated at 6 months before and after ¹H-MRS.

Results

• NAA/Cr and NAA/m-Ins were decreased significantly, and m-Ins/Cr was increased significantly in ALS patients compared to controls.
• NAA/Cr and NAA/m-Ins were correlated with ALSFRS and FVC and inversely linked to the decline rates.
• NAA/Cr, NAA/m-Ins and m-Ins/Cr were altered markedly in 9 patients with denervation and neurogenic changes in both C2 paraspinal and upper limb muscles.

[more...]