Table 1.
Comparison of motor cortex metabolites and ratios for patients with ALS and controls
| Mean value ± SD (%) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Metabolite or metabolite ratio | Controls (n = 12) | Patients with positive or suspected ALS (n = 12) | Patients with possible or definite ALS (n = 16) |
| Most affected motor cortex | |||
| NAA | 17.2 ± 1.7 | 17.7 ± 1.4 (2.9) | 17.1 ± 2.5 (−0.9) |
| Cre | 7.7 ± 1.0 | 8.0 ± 1.2 (3.9) | 8.2 ± 1.0 (7.2) |
| Cho | 4.4 ± 0.8 | 4.7 ± 0.8 (7.7) | 5.1 ± 0.6 (16.5)* |
| NAA/Cre | 2.14 ± 0.21 | 2.07 ± 0.22 (−3.1) | 1.98 ± (−7.5)* |
| NAA/Cho | 3.76 ± 0.60 | 3.60 ± 0.60 (−4.1) | 3.18 ± (−15.5)† |
| NAA/(Cro + Cho) | 1.35 ± 0.15 | 1.30 ± 0.15 (−3.5) | 1.21 ± (−10.6)† |
| Least affected motor cortex | |||
| NAA | 17.2 ± 1.7 | 17.0 ± 1.9 (−1.5) | 15.9 ± 1.5 (−7.5)* |
| Cre | 7.7 ± 1.0 | 7.7 ± 1.0 (0.4) | 8.0 ± 1.0 (3.6) |
| Cho | 4.4 ± 0.8 | 4.5 ± 1.1 (2.67) | 4.8 ± 0.7 (9.9) |
| NAA/Cre | 2.14 ± 0.21 | 3.76 ± 0.30 (−1.2) | 1.89 ± 0.15 (−11.5)‡ |
| NAA/Cho | 3.76 ± 0.60 | 3.55 ± 0.54 (−5.4) | 3.76 ± 0.36 (−16.2)† |
| NAA/(Cre + Cho) | 1.35 ± 0.15 | 1.31 ± 0.16 (−2.9) | 1.17 ± 0.09 (−13.4)# |
The most affected motor cortex was used for patients with ALS, and the average of the left and right motor cortex was used for controls. The percent change is compared with that for controls.
*
p < 0.05 (two-tailed t-test).
†
p < 0.01 (two-tailed t-test).
‡
p < 0.005 (two-tailed t-test).
NAA = N-acetylaspartate; Cre = creatine; Cho = choline.