Interictal alterations of thalamic metabolic concentration ratios in migraine without aura detected by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Aim of the work

To detect interictal changes of the metabolic concentration ratios in the thalami of patients with migraine without aura by using 1H-MRS.

Materials and methods

Twenty-two patients of migraine without aura were enrolled in this study in addition to 10 healthy controls. Patients were further divided into 2 subgroups; 12 with left-sided migraine and 10 with right-sided migraine. Patients were imaged interictally with multivoxel 1H-MRS for measuring the NAA/Cho, NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, MI/NAA and Lac/NAA ratios in both thalami.

Results

Each of the mean NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr ratios was significantly decreased in patients compared to controls, and also on the contralateral side compared to the side of migraine in each subgroup of patients. In contrary, no significant difference was found in Cho/Cr, MI/NAA and Lac/NAA ratios between patients and controls, as well as on comparing both sides in each subgroup of patients. Furthermore, increased duration of illness and frequency of attacks were significantly associated with decreased NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr ratios as well as increased MI/NAA and Lac/NAA ratios.

Conclusion

Migraine without aura is associated with thalamic interictal changes in the mean metabolite concentration ratios, detected with multivoxel 1H-MRS.