Evaluation of the Thalamic Region with Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Patients with Essential Tremor

Abstract

Objective: Although essential tremor (ET) is the most common movement disorder, its pathogenesis is poorly understood. It is suggested that the ventral intermediate (VIM) nucleus of the thalamus is important in the pathophysiology disease. Materials and Methods: The present study aimed to evaluate N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (cho), and creatinine (Cr) values via proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-1 MRS) of the VIM of the thalamus in 16 control patients and 42 patients with ET. Results: The mean NAA/Cr and NAA/Cho values of the thalamus VIM nucleus region in patients with ET was statistically significantly lower than the control group (p=0.001, p=0.005, respectively). In patients with ET, no significant relation was found between NAA/Cr, NAA/Cho values, and age, family history, disease duration, tremor severity, dominant extremity localization of tremor, and history of drug use (p>0.05). Conclusion: Low NAA values in the thalamus region of patients with ET indicate neuron loss and cell death. Neuron loss in the thalamus region has been suggested to play a part in the pathophysiology of the disease, and may indicate that ET is a neurodegenerative disease.

Keywords

• its pathogenesis is poorly understood. It is suggested that the ventral intermediate (VIM) nucleus of the thalamus is important in the pathophysiology disease. Materials and Methods: The present study aimed to evaluate N-acetylaspartate (NAA)
• choline (cho)
• and creatinine (Cr) values via proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-1 MRS) of the VIM of the thalamus in 16 control patients and 42 patients with ET. Results: The mean NAA/Cr and NAA/Cho values of the thalamus VIM nucleus region in patients with ET was statistically significantly lower than the control group (p=0.001
• p=0.005
• respectively). In patients with ET
• no significant relation was found between NAA/Cr
• NAA/Cho values
• and age
• family history
• disease duration
• tremor severity
• dominant extremity localization of tremor
• and history of drug use (p>0.05). Conclusion: Low NAA values in the thalamus region of patients with ET indicate neuron loss and cell death. Neuron loss in the thalamus region has been suggested to play a part in the pathophysiology of the disease
• Essential tremor
• magnetic resonance spectroscopy
• thalamus