PROTON MAGNETIC-RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY IN PATIENTS WITH ISCHEMIC STROKE

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-1-MRS) is a non-invasive tec hnique which has proved to be useful for monitoring various brain meta bolites (N-acetyl-aspartate, choline, creatine-phosphocreatine, lactat e). A total of 18 patients underwent a combined magnetic resonance ima ging (MRI)/H-MRS protocol in order to evaluate the distribution of the metabolites in the various stages of cerebral ischemia. Our results s how a marked decrease of N-acetyl-aspartate and a large content of Lac tate during the early phases, and a decrease in N-acetyl-aspartate, ch oline and creatine-phosphocreatine (Cr-PCr) during the chronic phase.