Preliminary evidence of low cortical GABA levels in localized H-1-MR spectra of alcohol-dependent and hepatic encephalopathy patients

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare levels of neuroactive amino acids in the cerebral cortex of healthy subjects, recently detoxified alcoh ol-dependent patients, and patients with hepatic encephalopathy. Method: Me tabolite levels were measured in the occipital cortex by using spatially lo calized H-1-MRS. Five recently detoxified alcohol-dependent and five hepati c encephalopathy patients with alcohol and non-alcohol-related disease were compared with 10 healthy subjects. Results: The combined level of gamma-am inobutyric acid (GABA) plus homocarnosine was lower in the alcohol-dependen t and hepatic encephalopathy patients than in the healthy subjects. Conclus ions: The findings suggest that GABA-ergic systems are altered in both alco hol-dependent and hepatic encephalopathy patients.