Seizure frequency and bilateral temporal abnormalities: A proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of temporal lobe epilepsy

Abstract

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) was performed in seven healthy volunteers and 17 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) to clarify the correlation of the severity of epilepsy with bilateral temporal changes in N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline-containing compounds (Cho) and creatine + phosphocreatine (Cr). Despite unilateral EEG focus, bilateral temporal reduction in NAA/(Cho + Cr) was revealed in patients with intractable seizures. The potential for seizure generation correlated with the NAA/(Cho + Cr) reduction not only on the ipsilateral side but also on the contralateral side. Proton MRS proved to be a useful measurement for obtaining important information about the neuronal changes as well as the lateralization of the epileptogenic focus in TLE patients. (C) 2000 BEA Trading Ltd.