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Open Access 01-08-2019 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging | Original Communication

Neuronal loss or dysfunction in patients with early Lyme neuroborreliosis: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of the brain

Authors: Adam Garkowski, Bożena Kubas, Marcin Hładuński, Joanna Zajkowska, Olga Zajkowska, Dorota Jurgilewicz, Radosław Zawadzki, Ewa Garkowska, Sławomir Pancewicz, Urszula Łebkowska

Published in: Journal of Neurology | Issue 8/2019

Abstract

Background

We hypothesized that since Borrelia burgdorferi causes systemic inflammation and infects the brain, it may lead to alterations in cerebral metabolism, as measured by ¹H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS). The purpose of our study was to determine whether ¹H-MRS could detect brain metabolite alterations in patients with early Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) in normal-appearing brain tissue on the conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods

Twenty-six patients diagnosed with early LNB and twenty-six healthy volunteers as a control group have been involved in the study. All of them underwent routine MRI protocol using 3.0-T MRI scanner. ¹H-MRS examinations were performed with repetition time (TR) = 2000 ms, and echo time (TE) = 135 ms. Single voxels were positioned in the anterior and posterior parts of the right and left frontal lobes.

Results

We found a statistically significant decrease of the N-acetylaspartate/creatine ratio within the anterior part of the right and left frontal lobes (p ≤ 0.001 and p = 0.001 respectively) and in the posterior part of the right and left frontal lobes (p ≤ 0.001 and 0.031) in the patients with LNB.

Conclusion

A significant reduction in NAA/Cr ratio in comparison with the controls suggests the presence of diffuse neuronal loss in patients with early LNB.

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Title: Neuronal loss or dysfunction in patients with early Lyme neuroborreliosis: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of the brain
Authors: Adam Garkowski
Bożena Kubas
Marcin Hładuński
Joanna Zajkowska
Olga Zajkowska
Dorota Jurgilewicz
Radosław Zawadzki
Ewa Garkowska
Sławomir Pancewicz
Urszula Łebkowska
Publication date: 01-08-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Neurologic Lyme Disease
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published in: Journal of Neurology / Issue 8/2019
Print ISSN: 0340-5354
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1459
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-019-09359-0

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Neuronal loss or dysfunction in patients with early Lyme neuroborreliosis: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of the brain

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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