PROTON MAGNETIC-RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY IN ACUTE, JUVENILE ANOREXIA-NERVOSA

Anorexia nervosa is usually associated with a shrinkage of the brain t hat is at least partially reversible with weight gain. The pathogenesi s of this brain abnormality is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate potential alterations in localized proton magnetic reso nance (H-1 MR) spectra of anorectic patients immediately after an inte rval of excessive weight loss. Twelve patients and seventeen control s ubjects were examined. Water suppressed 1H MR spectra were recorded fr om two voxels placed in the thalamus and in the parieto-occipital whit e matter. The spectra of ten patients could be evaluated. Comparing pa tients and control subjects, significantly higher signal intensity rat ios of choline containing compounds (Cho) relative to total creatine ( Cr) as well as significantly lower ratios of N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) relative to Cho were found in the white matter region. We hypothesize that these results indicate an abnormal starvation, associated membran e turnover, which predominantly takes place in the white matter. No ev idence for neuronal degeneration was found in the thalamus or in the w hite matter region. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.