Assessment of neonatal brain development by 2D1H-MRS at 3.0T / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare metabolite ratios in the basal ganglia regions between preterm and term neonates and analyze the correlation between metabolite ratio and postmenstrual age(PMA)using 2D magnetic resonance spectroscopy(MRS)at 3.0T,so as to explore the value of MRS in evaluating neonatal brain development.Methods Normal neonates who underwent 3.0T MRS exam ination were recruited.Axial 2D MRS was performed with the point-resolved spectroscopy sequence(PRESS)(echo time/repetition time,144 ms/1 000 ms) through the basal ganglia covering three regions of interest(ROI)(i.e.bilateral lenticular nucleus,thalamus and white matter beside the anterior horn of lateral ventricle).The peak areas ratios of Cho/Cr,NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr were calculated.Metabolite ratios were compared between preterm and term neonates,and between three ROIs. Correlation between metabolite ratio and PMA was further analyzed.Results Totally 54 neonates were included(preterm/term,27/27).In all the three ROIs,preterm neonates presented significantly higher Cho/Cr(P＜0.05) and significantly lower NAA/Cho ratios(P＜0.001)than those of term neonates;higher NAA/Cr ratio was only observed in the lenticular nucleus of preterm neonates(P＜0.001).Significant differences in metabolite ratios were detected among the three ROIs in preterm group(P＜0.05).For term group,metabolite ratios differed between lenticular nucleus and white matter beside the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle(P＜0.01),while no difference between lenticular nucleus and thalamus was found(P＞0.05).Significant correlation between metabolite ratio and PMA was found in all the three ROIs except NAA/Cr ratio in the white matter beside the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle.To be specific,we found linear negative correlation of Cho/Cr ratio(r= -0.325,-0.633,-0.438) and positive correlation of NAA/Cho ratio(r = 0.604,0.773,0.483)in all the three ROIs,but negative correlations of NAA/Cr ratio(r=0.487,0.367)in lenticular nucleus and thalamus with PMA.Conclusion Our findings suggest the tempo-spatial pattern of neonatal brain metabolite development in terms of anatomic location and PMA.Besides,the multi-voxel MRS presents potentials in establishing the normal topologic and age-matched reference in neonates and thus making brain maturation assessment and detection of early abnormal metabolism.