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

• Published in: Neurological research (New York) Vol. 16; no. 6; p. 481
• Main Authors: Giroud, M, Walker, P, Bernard, D, Fayolle, H, Beaurain, J, Baudoin, N, Brunotte, F, Dumas, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-12-1994
• Subjects: 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
• ISSN: 0161-6412
• DOI: 10.1080/01616412.1994.11740279

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.