Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of normal appearing white matter in familial and sporadic multiple sclerosis

Objective To assess metabolite levels in normal–appearing white matter in sporadic and familial multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods Using H–MRS and applying one voxel measure we assessed NAA/Cho,NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr ratios in 26 patients with sporadic and in 25 with familial MS and compared them with healthy subjects.Results In both MS groups NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr ratio were significantly lower than in healthy individuals whereas Cho/Cr ratio was higher in MS patients. In sporadic MS patients NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr ratios were lower, although not significantly, than in familial cases. The Cho/Cr ratio was similar in both MS groups.Conclusion These results suggest that subtle differences in H–MRS measures corresponding to axonal rather than to myelin pathology might occur in sporadic and familial MS.