Chen Nan MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Xing Wang MS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kun Cheng Li MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the correlation between the biochemical changes in the motor cortex and the function state after spinal cord injury.

One hundred and eighteen patients with spinal cord injury from 8 days to 3 years before the day of MRS study was divided into grade A(27 cases), B(26 cases),C(37cases) and D(28cases) groups according to the American Spinal Injuries Association standard. Ten person with no history of neurological disease as control group. All group performed Proton MRS study. MRS data were collected from a plane at the level of the centrum semiovale by using a single voxel stimulated echo acquisition mode pulse sequence.The parameters were repetition time 1500ms; delay before data acquisition 130 ms;32 phase encoding steps giving 512 averages; a bandwidth of 1000 Hz.giving a nominal voxel size of 4.5 cm3.Spectral analysis was performed by using the linear combination model software , the N-acetylaspartate (NAA), compounds containing choline (Cho), creatine and phosphocreatine (Cr), the aspartate component of NAA(AspNAA), and glutamate and glutamine (Glx) were measured using the NMR1spectral processing program

The mean level of NAA ratio in the motor cortex of the patients of A, B,C,D group and the control group was 1.08±0.03, 1.41±0.12, 1.86±0.08,2.86±0.13,2.79±0.20, respectively. There was significant different among SCI group (D>B>C>A, P<0.05)); there was no significant between the D group and control group. NAA/Cr ratio was 13% lower (p<0.05) in the motor cortex of D group than in the control group, but, 70%, 52% and 43% higher (p<0.05) than in the A, B,C groups, respectively. There was no other metabolite levels differed between these regions in the patient group with spinal injury or between patient with spinal injury group and the control group.

NAA and NAA/Cr ratio are correlation with the function state of spinal cord injury. MRS can evaluate the degree of functional recovery after spinal cord injury and can be the useful tool to monitor the prognosis.

MRS could be the useful tool to monitor the function state and the prognosis for spinal cord injury.

Nan, C, Wang, X, Li, K, The Biochemical Changes in the Motor Cortex of  Spinal Cord Injury: Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H MRS) Study.  Radiological Society of North America 2009 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 29 - December 4, 2009 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2009/8016166.html