Seizure : the journal of the British Epilepsy Association
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To investigate possible neuronal dysfunction of the thalamus in patients suffering from typical absence epilepsy, using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Special attention was paid to levels of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and creatine (Cr), and to the NAA/Cr ratio. ⋯ The present MRS data clearly indicate neuronal dysfunction in the thalami of patients with typical absence epilepsy. In agreement with other recent MRS findings in different idiopathic generalized epilepsy syndromes, our results confirm the role of the thalamus as an important structure in the pathogenesis of typical absence epilepsy.