• Mar Ariza, Carme Junqué, Maria Mataró, Maria A Poca, Núria Bargalló, Miren Olondo, and Joan Sahuquillo.
• Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Spain.
• Arch Neurol Chicago. 2004 Apr 1; 61 (4): 541-4.

BackgroundProton magnetic resonance spectroscopy can assess neurochemical sequelae in traumatic brain injury. Metabolic abnormalities are present in the acute or subacute period in patients with traumatic brain injury and correlate with outcome on clinical scales.ObjectiveTo investigate the use of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in detecting possible gray subcortical neurochemical impairments and their relationship with neuropsychological performance.DesignGroup comparisons and correlations of brain metabolites with clinical and neuropsychological variables.Patients And MethodsMetabolite concentrations were acquired from voxels localized to the basal ganglia and medial temporal region in 20 patients with long-term moderate and severe traumatic brain injury and 20 matched control subjects. Both groups underwent neuropsychological assessment.ResultsN-acetylaspartate-choline-containing compounds ratios were decreased in patients in the basal ganglia (t = -3.28, P =.002) and medial temporal region (t = -3.52, P =.001). The basal ganglia ratio correlated to measures of speed, motor scanning, and attention.ConclusionPatients with long-term TBI present a regional correlation pattern that may help identify the neurological basis of cognitive sequelae in traumatic brain injury.

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