Preliminary observations of metabolic characterization of bilateral temporal epileptic focus, using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Three cases

Neurol Res. 1994 Dec;16(6):481-3. doi: 10.1080/01616412.1994.11740279.

Abstract

The authors report the case of 3 patients with bilateral temporal lobe epilepsy demonstrated by EEG and sphenoïdal electrodes. Two out of the 3 patients presented with childhood febrile convulsions. Their neurological and mental examination was normal. EEG showed spikes within the anterior part of the 2 temporal lobes. CT scan and MRI showed no atrophic lesion within the 2 temporal lobes. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, performed within a cube of 8 cube-centimetres localized in the anterior part of the 2 temporal lobes showed a significant decrease of N-acetyl-aspartate in the 2 temporal lobes of the 3 cases, compared with controls matched with age, sex and laterality. Because N-acetyl-aspartate is a marker of the neuronal cells, the decreased level of NAA in the temporal area with spikes, may be related to a decreased number of neuronal cells, developing an abnormal tendency to seizures.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aspartic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Aspartic Acid / metabolism
  • Choline / metabolism
  • Creatine / metabolism
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / diagnostic imaging
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / metabolism*
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Reference Values
  • Temporal Lobe / diagnostic imaging
  • Temporal Lobe / metabolism*
  • Temporal Lobe / pathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Aspartic Acid
  • N-acetylaspartate
  • Creatine
  • Choline