1H-MR-spectroscopy in Anorexia nervosa: characteristic differences betweenpatients and normal controls.

Purpose: The neurophysiological and neuromorphological changes in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) are well-known but the reason of both is still u nknown. We have evaluated the usefulness of hydrogen (H-1) magnetic resonan ce spectroscopy in anorexia nervosa. Method: We investigated 15 patiens wit h clinically diagnosed AN (ICD F50.0) and 17 controls without eating disord ers. The body mass index (BMI) was 15.8 and 21, respectively. The spectrosc opy was recorded on two voxels in the parieto-okzipital white matter or in the thalamus with a water-suppressed STEAM-sequence. The metabolites were r ecorded with respect to phosphocreatine (PCr). Results: The ratio of NAA/PC r in both voxels were not significantly different when comparing patients v s. controls. Patients showed significantly higher ratios of choline-contain ing components (Cho) or, respectively Cho/PCr and NAA/PCr in the white matt er. Distinct, but not significant differences were detected both for m-Ino and m-Ino/PCr in the parieto-occipital region and for the Cho-and m-Ino cot ained ratios in the thalamus. Conclusion: AN is not associated with neurona l damage. The ratio of Cho/PCr and NAA/Cho may reflect the disturbance of m embrane-turnover. It is possible that the increase of membrane catabolism l eads to a hyperosmolar state. The change of m-Ino/PCr ratio may reflect the regulation of osmolarity.