Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging of the brain in childhood autism
Received 19 December 2002; received in revised form 20 June 2003; accepted 25 June 2003.
Abstract
Background
Autism is a developmental disorder of unknown neurologic basis. Based on prior work, we used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H- MRSI) to investigate brain structures, including cingulate and caudate, that we hypothesized would reveal metabolic abnormalities in subjects with autism.
Methods
In 22 children with autism, 5 to 16 years old, and 20 age-matched healthy control subjects, 1H-MRSI assessed levels of N-acetyl compounds (NAA), choline compounds (Cho), and creatine plus phosphocreatine (Cr) at 272 msec echo-time and 1.5 T.
Results
In subjects with autism compared with control subjects, Cho was 27.2% lower in left inferior anterior cingulate and 19.1% higher in the head of the right caudate nucleus; Cr was 21.1% higher in the head of the right caudate nucleus, but lower in the body of the left caudate nucleus (17.9%) and right occipital cortex (16.6%).
Conclusions
Results are consistent with altered membrane metabolism, altered energetic metabolism, or both in the left anterior cingulate gyrus, both caudate nuclei, and right occipital cortex in subjects with autism compared with control subjects.
aDepartment of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Neuropsychiatric Institute (JGL, JO, SS, DF, JTM, DG), Los Angeles, California, USA
bLaboratory of Neuroimaging (REB, AWT), Los Angeles, California, USA
cDepartment of Radiological Sciences (JRA), University of California-Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
Address reprint requests to Jennifer G. Levitt, M.D., University of California-Los Angeles, Neuropsychiatric Institute, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles CA 90024, USA.
ABSTRACT