Changes in putamen N-acetylaspartate and choline ratios in untreated and levadopa treated Parkinson’s disease : a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Changes in putamen N-acetylaspartate and choline ratios in untreated and levadopa treated Parkinson’s disease : a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

AU - Ellis, C

AU - Lemmens, G M

AU - Williams, Steven

AU - Simmons, Andrew

AU - Dawson, J

AU - Leigh, P N

AU - Chaudhuri, K Ray

PY - 1997/8

Y1 - 1997/8

N2 - We have carried out single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy centered on the putamen both ipsilateral and contralateral to the worst affected side in nine subjects with drug naive idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD); seven chronically levodopa-treated dyskinetic IPD subjects; and 11 age-matched healthy controls. Measurements of N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/choline (Cho), NAA/(Creatine + Phosphocreatine) (Cr + PCr), and Cho/(Cr + PCr) were made. We found a significant reduction in NAA/Cho ratios from the putamen contralateral to the most affected side in the drugnaive group (p = 0.009), but not the levodopa-treated IPD groups compared with controls. There were no significant differences in NAA/(Cr + PCr) or Cho/(Cr + PCr) ratios. In untreated IPD, reduced putaminal NAA/Cho ratios may reflect loss of nigrostriatal dopamine terminals or alternatively indicate a functional abnormality of striatal putaminal neurons, such as membrane dysfunction due to striatal deafferentation. This study suggests that NAA/Cho ratios may be affected by L-dopa therapy and this may provide a reversible marker of neuronal dysfunction in the striatum.

AB - We have carried out single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy centered on the putamen both ipsilateral and contralateral to the worst affected side in nine subjects with drug naive idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD); seven chronically levodopa-treated dyskinetic IPD subjects; and 11 age-matched healthy controls. Measurements of N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/choline (Cho), NAA/(Creatine + Phosphocreatine) (Cr + PCr), and Cho/(Cr + PCr) were made. We found a significant reduction in NAA/Cho ratios from the putamen contralateral to the most affected side in the drugnaive group (p = 0.009), but not the levodopa-treated IPD groups compared with controls. There were no significant differences in NAA/(Cr + PCr) or Cho/(Cr + PCr) ratios. In untreated IPD, reduced putaminal NAA/Cho ratios may reflect loss of nigrostriatal dopamine terminals or alternatively indicate a functional abnormality of striatal putaminal neurons, such as membrane dysfunction due to striatal deafferentation. This study suggests that NAA/Cho ratios may be affected by L-dopa therapy and this may provide a reversible marker of neuronal dysfunction in the striatum.

U2 - 10.1212/WNL.49.2.438

DO - 10.1212/WNL.49.2.438

M3 - Article

SN - 0028-3878

VL - 49

SP - 438

EP - 444

JO - Neurology

JF - Neurology

IS - 2

ER -