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. 2001 Nov-Dec;22(10):1926-32.

Sequential MR imaging and proton MR spectroscopy in patients who underwent recent detoxification for chronic alcoholism: correlation with clinical and neuropsychological data

M Bendszus  1 , H G Weijers, G Wiesbeck, M Warmuth-Metz, A J Bartsch, S Engels, J Böning, L Solymosi
Affiliations

Sequential MR imaging and proton MR spectroscopy in patients who underwent recent detoxification for chronic alcoholism: correlation with clinical and neuropsychological data

M Bendszus et al. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2001 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Background and purpose: Chronic alcohol abuse may cause neuropsychological disorders and result in brain atrophy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the metabolic, morphologic, and functional cerebral changes in the early stage of abstinence from chronic alcoholism.

Methods: Seventeen alcohol-dependent patients underwent MR imaging and MR spectroscopy on days 1 through 3 and days 36 through 39 of abstinence. In addition, psychological performance measures testing intelligence, concentration, attention, and memory were applied. Neuropsychological data were correlated with spectroscopic and volumetric results by using a Pearson's product moment correlation. The same measurements were also performed in 12 healthy, age-matched control subjects. Peak integral values for N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and choline (Cho) were referred to the peak integral value of creatine (Cr) as the internal reference.

Results: NAA/Cr was decreased in the patients in both the frontal lobes and cerebellum immediately after cessation of drinking (days 1 through 3). After 36 to 39 days of abstinence, NAA/Cr had significantly increased in the patients and corresponded to performance on psychological tests. The Cho/Cr ratio was decreased in the cerebellum during early abstinence but was recovered on days 36 through 39. The patients had enlarged CSF spaces 1 to 3 days after detoxification, which decreased during sobriety. The extent of brain atrophy did not correspond to performance on psychological performance tests.

Conclusion: Regression of brain atrophy and metabolic recovery occurs at an early stage after abstinence from chronic alcohol abuse. MR spectroscopy findings return to normal metabolic levels within weeks after detoxification. The recovery of NAA/Cr is associated with improved performance on neuropsychological tests.

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Figures

<sc>fig</sc> 1.
fig 1.
Position and representative spectrum of the frontal voxel of a 35-year-old man 2 days after abstinence from 7 years of alcohol abuse. The voxel was placed with its inferior edge at the callosomarginal gyrus and its posterior edge at the central sulcus
<sc>fig</sc> 2.
fig 2.
Position and representative spectrum of the cerebellar voxel of the same patient in figure 1 on the same day. The voxel was placed with its medial edge in the left cerebellar hemisphere and its upper dorsal corner at the tentorium
<sc>fig</sc> 3.
fig 3.
Metabolite ratios for NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr in the frontal voxel on days 1 through 3 (1) and days 36 through 39 (2) after abstinence
<sc>fig</sc> 4.
fig 4.
Metabolite ratios for NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr in the cerebellar voxel on days 1 through 3 (1) and days 36 through 39 (2) after abstinence
<sc>fig</sc> 5.
fig 5.
Volume of the external and internal CSF spaces (mL) on days 1 through 3 (1) and days 36 through 39 (2) after abstinence
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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