MR Spectroscopy Evaluation and Short-term Outcome of Olfactory Ensheathing Cells Transplantation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients / 中国修复重建外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS) for detection of the motor cortex and adjacent brain in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with apparent upper motor neuron involvement after olfactory ensheathing cells(OECs) transplantation. Methods From December 2004 to February 2005, 7 patients with clinically definite ALS who could safely undergo MRS were admitted into the perspective study. The neurological status, ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS), EMG, and 1H-MRS taken before and 2 weeks after operations were carefully analyzed. The NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr ratios were measured in the cerebral peduncle, genu and posterior limb of the internal capsule, corona radiata and precentral gyrus. Results The ALSFRS in 2 cases improved obviously whose ALSFRS increased from 30 to 33 and from 29 to 34 respectively. And 5 cases remained stable 2 weeks after OECs transplantation. Statistical analyses for all seven cases showed both the NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr ratios decreased, but in the two cases with ALSFRS improvement the NAA/Cr increased in the certain anatomic position which confirmed the neurological and EMG findings. Conclusion The proton MR spectroscopy is a suitable noninvasive measure for ALS evaluation. The preliminary study suggests that two of the seven ALS cases improved apparently short-term after OECs transplantation. More patients are required for the clinical study and longer follow-up duration is needed for future research.