17335
Metabolite Alterations in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Proton MR Spectroscopy Study
Previous studies have investigated different patient populations and 1H-MRS techniques; it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions regarding the metabolic abnormalities in patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to asses the role of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in the detection of changes in cerebral metabolite levels in youth autistic.
Methods:
This case-control study included 10 right-handed youth (median age, 22 years ± 2.2), and 10 healthy age matched healthy controls (median age, 20.6 years ± 2.2). The diagnosis of autism was established by neurologist, psychiatrist and psychologist in every case. The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), designed by Baron-Cohen et al. to asses Autistic Spectrum traits in intellectually competent adults in both the general population and the Autism Spectrum community. Imaging was performed on a 3.0-T scanner utilizing a single-voxel point-resolved spectroscopy technique. The volume of interest (VOI) was located in the bilateral anterior cingulated, and bilateral posterior cingulated. Peak areas and ratios to creatine (Cr) of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), and myo-inositol (mI) were analized.
Results:
We showed lower N-acetylaspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr), N-acetylaspartate/myoinositol (NAA/mI), Choline/Creatine (Cho/Cr), and myoinositol/Creatine (mI/Cr) in the bilateral anterior cingulated in the study group comparing with healthy controls. The ratio of N-acetylaspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr), N-acetylaspartate/myoinositol (NAA/mI), and Choline/Creatine (Cho/Cr) was increased in youth autistic in the bilateral posterior cingulated, in contrast the ratio myoinositol/Creatine (mI/Cr) was decreased.
Conclusions:
1H MRS can provide important information regarding abnormal brain metabolism. Differences in NAA/Cr, NAA/mI, Cho/Cr, and Mi/Cr may contribute to the pathogenesis of autism.