Open-access Extratemporal abnormalities in phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy of patients with mesial temporal sclerosis

Anormalidades extratemporais na espectroscopia de fósforo por ressonância magnética em pacientes com esclerose mesial temporal

ABSTRACT

Objective  We evaluated extratemporal metabolic changes with phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) in patients with unilateral mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS).

Method  31P-MRS of 33 patients with unilateral MTS was compared with 31 controls. The voxels were selected in the anterior, posterior insula-basal ganglia (AIBG, PIBG) and frontal lobes (FL). Relative values of phosphodiesters- PDE, phosphomonoesters-PME, inorganic phosphate - Pi, phosphocreatine- PCr, total adenosine triphosphate [ATPt = γ- + a- + b-ATP] and the ratios PCr/ATPt, PCr/γ-ATP, PCr/Pi and PME/PDE were obtained.

Results  We found energetic abnormalities in the MTS patients compared to the controls with Pi reduction bilaterally in the AIBG and ipsilaterally in the PIBG and the contralateral FL; there was also decreased PCr/γ-ATP in the ipsilateral AIBG and PIBG. Increased ATPT in the contralateral AIBG and increased γ-ATP in the ipsilateral PIBG were detected.

Conclusion  Widespread energy dysfunction was detected in patients with unilateral MTS.

phosphorus spectroscopy; magnetic resonance imaging; neurometabolism; mesial temporal sclerosis; epilepsy

RESUMO

Objetivo  Nós avaliamos as alterações metabóblicas através da espectroscopia de fósforo por ressonância magnética (31P-MRS) em pacientes com esclerose mesial temporal (EMT) unilateral.

Método  31P-MRS de 33 pacientes com EMT unilateral foram comparadas aos de 31 controles. Foram selecionados os voxels nas regiões insulonuclear anterior e posterior (RINA e RINP) e frontal (RF). Os valores relativos de fosfodiésteres – PDE, fosfomonoésteres- PME, fosfato inorgânico- Pi, fosfocreatina –PCr, adenosina trifosfato total [ATPt = γ- + a- + b-ATP] e as razões PCr/ATPt, PCr/γ-ATP, PCr/Pi e PME/PDE foram obtidas.

Resultados  Nós encontramos anormalidades em pacientes com EMT em comparação aos controles. Redução de Pi nas RINA bilateralmente, RINP ipsilateral e RF contralateral, redução de PCr/γ-ATP nas RINA e RINP ipsilaterais foram detectadas. Aumentos de ATPT na RINA contralateral e aumento de γ-ATP na RINP ipsilateral também foram encontradas.

Conclusão  Disfunção energética difusa foi encontrada em pacientes com EMT unilateral.

espectroscopia de fósforo; ressonância magnética; neurometabolismo; esclerose mesial temporal; epilepsia

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common form of epilepsy in adult patients and the mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) is the most frequent entity associated with medically refractory TLE. MTS is characterized by selective neuronal loss in CA1, CA3 and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. MTS may also involve the amygdala, parahippocampal gyrus, and entorhinal cortex. More widespread temporal lobe involvement may also occur1.

Previous studies have discovered metabolic dysfunction in the temporal and extratemporal regions in mesial temporal sclerosis. Interictal 18-FDG-PET studies in MTS2 have shown ipsi- and contralateral decreased glucose metabolism not only in the temporal lobe but also in the basal ganglia3 and frontal lobes4. These findings are in agreement with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), phosphorous magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (31P- MRS)5 and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)6 studies in which extensive temporal and extratemporal structural and metabolic involvement in epilepsy has been associated with MTS.

1H-MRS studies have reported decreased N -acetylaspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr) in ipsilateral mesial temporal structures compared to the contralateral side and to controls7,8 with 87% sensitivity, 92% specificity and lateralization in 86% of patients9,10. Significant decreases in the NAA/Cr ratio were also found in the contralateral hippocampus and thalami11, as well as in the frontal, parietal and occipital lobes bilaterally compared to control group7. These findings were more pronounced in the ipsilateral hemispheres of MTS patients compared to controls7. Patients who presented with bitemporal or extratemporal abnormalities on 1 8-FDG-PET and 1H-MRS have poorer surgical outcomes12 and more severe cognitive impairment4 than patients who presented with unilateral temporal changes.

Phosphorous magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (31P- MRS) allows a non-invasive measurement of the phosphorus metabolites related to the energy state and membrane composition as well as an evaluation of mitochondrial function, considering that ATP is mainly generated by mitochondria13.

Previous studies have investigated the lateralizing ability of 31P-MRS in patients with TLE. These studies found reduced PCr/Pi and PCr/ATP ratios in the temporal lobes, which was more pronounced ipsilaterally, allowing for correct seizure focus lateralization in 70 to 73% of cases14. In extratemporal locations, decrease of PCr/γ-ATP ratio in the patient’s ipsilateral parietal gray matter compared to the same region in controls14 and reduced PCr/ATP ratios were found bilaterally in the hippocampi and ipsilaterally in the thalamus and striatum15.

The temporal lobe metabolic abnormalities were well characterized by the methods mentioned above however, further characterization of the extratemporal abnormalities in MTS, specially considering the information that 31P- MRS can provide, can facilitate our understanding of the extent of metabolic dysfunction and their role in refractoriness to clinical treatment, as well as of the cognitive and psychiatric impairment associated with refractory epilepsy. This characterization may also contribute for predicting the postoperative outcome.

There are few reports in the literature regarding 31P-MRS in patients with MTS, most of which with small sample sizes, some performed in low magnetic field. The aim of this study was to use 31P- MRS to evaluate extratemporal metabolic changes in a strict, large selection of patients with refractory epilepsy related to unilateral MTS.

METHOD

Subjects

We analyzed a consecutive series of patients with TLE secondary to unilateral MTS. Diagnosis of TLE was established by MRI and EEG findings. Brain MRI findings of unilateral hippocampal volume loss on T1-weighted images and increased signal intensity on T2-weighted and/or FLAIR images, without other MRI lesions except minor white matter changes on T2 or FLAIR sequences, also supported the diagnosis of MTS. All patients presented with medically refractory epilepsy and were in the process of surgical evaluation. All patients underwent prolonged video-EEG monitoring with recording of at least one epileptic seizure and had electrographic onset in the temporal lobe. Patients with other neurological or active psychiatric disease, previous or current ethanol abuse and comorbidity with nonepileptic psychogenic seizures were excluded. Healthy controls, fulfilling the other inclusion and exclusion criteria served as a control group.

We studied 33 patients (20 women, age range 23 to 55 years, mean age 35.9 ± 9.7 years) and 31 controls (19 women, age range 18 to 53 years, mean age 32.5 ± 9.9 years). All patients reported being seizure–free for at least 48 hours prior to MRS examination.

The institution ethics committee approved this study. All patients and controls signed the approved informed consent form prior to study enrollment.

31P-MRS

Three-dimensional (3D) 31P-MRS was performed on an Intera Achieva 3.0 T system (Philips, Best, The Netherlands) using a double-tuned 31P/1H head coil (AIRI, Cleveland, USA). A T1-fast field echo axial sequence was acquired (TR = 7.6 ms; TE = 3.7 ms; flip angle = 8°; isotropic 1-mm3 resolution) with sagittal and coronal plane reconstructions.

31P-MRS acquisition was based on a pulse-acquire type sequence (TE/TR = 0.31 ms/5093 ms), using an adiabatic pulse, broadband decoupling (power factor = 0.4; offset = 100 Hz) and an automatic shimming procedure. Saturation bands were placed around the grid to avoid muscle contamination. The total field of view was 180 x 210 x 120 mm (right to left x anterior to posterior x superior to inferior), divided into six slices with six columns and seven lines each, resulting in 30 x 30 x 20 mm individual voxels. Following 31P-MRS acquisition, low resolution T1 images (TR = 9.4 ms; TE = 4.6 ms; flip angle = 8°; section thickness = 3 mm) were obtained to ensure the same head location throughout the examination. The total exam time was 43 minutes.

Spectral processing and quantification were performed with jMRUI software using the AMARES algorithm16. The postprocessing included truncation of the first two data points to reduce the baseline broadline component distortion effects. Starting values for line-width constraints, chemical shifts and J coupling were used as prior knowledge in the fitting algorithm. Zero- and first-order phase corrections were applied for convergence during spectral fitting.

These steps were repeated for all analyzed voxels and were always performed by the same investigator.

The relative values of each metabolite divided by the sum of all metabolites (phosphodiesters- PDE, phosphomonoesters-PME, inorganic phosphate - Pi, phosphocreatine- PCr, total adenosine triphosphate [ATPt = g- + a- + b-ATP]), as well as the metabolite ratios PCr/ATPt, PCr/γ-ATP, PCr/γ-ATP, PCr/Pi and PME/PDE, were obtained for patients and controls. A typical 31P- MRS is presented in Figure 1.

Figure 1
Normal 31P- MRS: PCr (phosphocreatine ), Pi (inorganic phosphate), γ-, a-, β-ATP (adenosine triphosphate) representing energetic pool. PME (phosphomonoesters), PDE (phosphodiesters) representing membrane turnover.

Although a large number of voxels was obtained, to avoid multiple comparisons errors, muscle contamination and to provide reproducibility, the most homologous voxels in the basal ganglia and frontal lobes were analyzed. Therefore, we selected the anterior insula-basal ganglia (AIBG) regions, posterior insula-basal ganglia (PIBG) regions and frontal lobes (FL) voxels (Figure 2), located ipsi- or contralaterally to the MTS.

Figure 2
Location of the selected voxels. (A) Anterior insula-basal ganglia (AIBG) regions. (B) Posterior insula-basal ganglia (PIBG) regions (C). Frontal lobes (FL).

Statistical analysis

All metabolite measurements and studied ratios of each selected voxel for the patients were compared to the average values of controls.

The t test was used to compare groups; p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Statistical analyses were performed with the SPSS version 17.0.1 software package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, U.S.A.).

RESULTS

Twenty patients with left MTS and 13 patients with right MTS were studied.

In the ipsilateral AIBG, we found reduced Pi (patients = 0.081 vs. controls = 0.089, p = 0.009) and PCr/ γ-ATP (patients = 1.966 vs. controls = 2.146, p = 0.027) in the patients compared to controls (Table 1).

Table 1
Comparison of the metabolite profile in the ipsilateral regions.

In the contralateral AIBG, we detected reduced Pi (patients = 0.082 in patients vs. controls = 0.089, p = 0.013) and increased total ATP (patients = 0.298 vs. controls = 0.286, p = 0.026) in the patients compared to controls (Table 2).

Table 2
Comparison of the metabolite profile in the contralateral regions.

In the ipsilateral PIBG, we found reduced Pi (patients = 0.077 vs. controls = 0.083, p = 0.009) and PCr/γ-ATP (patients = 0.249 vs. controls = 0.286, p = 0.017) as well as increased γ-ATP (patients = 0.098 vs. controls = 0.093, p = 0.024) in the patients compared to controls (Table 1).

In the contralateral FL, we found reduced Pi in the patients compared to controls (patients = 0.087 vs. controls = 0.090, p = 0.014) (Table 2).

The PCr, PCr/ATPT, PCr/Pi, PME, PDE and PME/PDE values in the patients were not significantly different from controls.

No significant differences were found between the patients and controls in the contralateral PIBG (Table 2) and in the ipsilateral FL (Table 1) for any of the metabolites or ratios.

DISCUSSION

We found extratemporal energy metabolism abnormality in patients with unilateral MTS.

More extensive metabolic changes involving Pi and PCr/γ-ATP in the AIBG and PIBG were identified. In the FL, the findings were less prominent; the Pi decrease was the only metabolic abnormality noted in the contralateral FL, while none of the metabolites or ratios were abnormal in the ipsilateral FL.

31P –MRS reflects five primary resonance groups related to the energy metabolism and membrane turnover. PCr, Pi and ATP (encompassing γ-, a- and b-ATP) are related to the energetic pool. PCr acts as an energy reservoir. Upon energy demand, PCr donates a phosphate group to adenoside diphosphate (ADP), which allows for ATP synthesis. Inversely, in resting states and ATP excess, PCr is produced. ATP is the main energy source for the majority of cellular functions and it is predominately generated by oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria17. The PCr/ATP ratio serves as a robust bioenergetics measure, reflecting the cellular energetic demand and production5. Pi represents a mixture of the phosphoric acid ions; the concentration of Pi increases upon high energy demand or cellular damage13.

While PME represents membrane anabolism, PDE reflects membrane catabolism. Two metabolites from each are detectable in higher resolution spectra: PME is composed of phosphocholine and phosphoethanolamine, while PDE is composed of glycerophosphocholine and glycerophosphoethanolamine. The PME/PDE ratio indicates the membrane turnover13.

Previous 31P-MRS studies discovered energetic changes in the mesial portion of the temporal lobe in MTS patients, with reduced PCr/Pi, PCr/ATP and γ-ATP/Pi ratios in the epileptogenic mesial temporal region compared to controls and to the contralateral temporal lobe15. Regarding other metabolites, an increased Pi concentration and reduced PME levels were found ipsilateral to the epileptogenic focus18,19.

In extratemporal locations, Chu et al. using 31P-MRS found a decreased PCr/γ-ATP ratio in the patient’s ipsilateral parietal gray matter compared to the same region in controls14. Pan et al found reduced PCr/ATP ratios in the hippocampi bilaterally and in the thalamus and striatum ipsilaterally in patients with unilateral medically refractory mesial TLE15.

The decreased PCr/ATP ratio observed in this study reflects high energy demand, in line with previous 31P-MRS studies which investigated MTS14,15.

Interictal Pi decrease and ATP increase detected in extratemporal sites could be a consequence of frequent seizures and represent a compensatory mechanism to high energetic consumption during the ictal period. The ictal period is characterized by reduced PCr and ATP and increased Pi in animal models and in studies with humans20,21.

It is possible that mitochondrial injury represents the underlying basis of the 1H-MRS and 31P-MRS metabolic changes seen in MTS patients considering that NAA is synthesized only in neuronal mitochondria22 and it is strongly correlated with oxidative metabolism23 and disturbances in energy metabolism were the main finding in previous 31P-MRS studies.

Mitochondrial oxidative stress and dysfunction appear to represent not only a consequence of seizures but may indeed be related to epileptogenesis24. Epilepsy frequently occurs in association with inherited mitochondrial disorders, such as myoclonic epilepsy and mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes25, which is additional evidence that mitochondrial dysfunction has a role in epilepsy. Furthermore, mice that are partially deficient in a critical mitochondrial antioxidant have a decreased seizure threshold26. Other evidence for the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in seizure generation in humans is the increased prevalence of epilepsy with aging. Mitochondrial oxidative stress is a well established mechanism of aging and age-related degenerative disease27.

Our study is limited by the size of the MRS voxels with contamination from the surrounding structures, especially considering that the number of phase encoding steps was limited by the time of scanning. Only patients with MTS were studied, thus it is unclear if this abnormality is typical of MTS or can happen in other epilepsies. All the patients in our sample were receiving multiple epilepsy drugs and were scheduled for surgery due to refractoriness; therefore no attempt was made to stratify them according to medical therapy. Another limitation is that the absence of seizure was questionnaire based instead of EEG proven in the 48 hours prior to exam. Therefore internal and external validities were limited by the aforementioned shortcomings.

It is currently unknown whether the control of refractory epilepsy with medication or after epilepsy surgery will result in normalization of energy metabolism parameters. It is also unclear whether the correction of metabolic abnormalities may contribute to seizure control and improvement of the cognitive and psychiatric symptoms of refractory epilepsy.

Future studies should investigate the correlation between energetic changes and other factors associated with refractory epilepsy, such as seizure severity, epilepsy features and etiologies, cognitive and psychiatric complications and the postoperative outcome.

A better understanding of the energy dysfunction profile may elucidate the features associated with refractoriness and brain dysfunction associated with chronic epilepsy.

In conclusion, our results indicate extratemporal energetic dysfunction in patients with epilepsy associated with unilateral MTS.

References

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Feb 2016

History

  • Received
    19 June 2015
  • Reviewed
    04 Oct 2015
  • Accepted
    26 Oct 2015
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