Application of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy on substantia nigra metabolites in Parkinson’s disease

This study investigates changes in substantia nigra metabolites in Parkinson’s disease (PD) using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H- MRS). Thirty patients with asymmetric PD and 20 normal controls were included in this study. Substantia nigra metabolites were detected in all subjects using 3D-multimer 1 H-MRS with a 3.0 T MRI scanner. The relative ratios of NAA/Cr, NAA/Cho, NAA/(Cho + Cr) in the substantia nigra were compared between two sides of asymmetric PD patients as well as between PD patients and controls. Significant differences in NAA/Cr, NAA/Cho, NAA/(Cho + Cr) were observed between PD patients and healthy controls ( P < 0.05) as well as between the ipsilateral and contralateral of affected extremity in PD patients ( P < 0.05). Significant differences in NAA/Cr, NAA/Cho, NAA/(Cho + Cr) were also observed between patients with mild and severe PD. Thus, we found that 1 H-MRS can be used to detect substantia nigra metabolites in PD patients, which may be useful for early diagnosis and evaluation of PD.