TABLE 2.
Metabolite Concentrations at Baseline
| Metabolite | Patients, n = 343 | Controls, n = 42 | Mean Differencea (95% CI) | p a |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glutamate[NAWM] | ||||
| All MS | 9.29 ± 1.70 | 8.44 ± 1.01 | 0.85 (0.49 to 1.21) | <0.001 |
| CIS | 9.38 ± 1.19 | |||
| RRMS | 9.32 ± 1.79 | |||
| SPMS | 9.12 ± 1.18 | |||
| PPMS | 8.36 ± 1.92 | |||
| Glutamate[GM] | ||||
| All MS | 10.79 ± 2.04 | 10.80 ± 1.70 | –0.015 (–0.58 to 0.55) | 0.96 |
| CIS | 10.84 ± 2.31 | |||
| RRMS | 10.82 ± 2.02 | |||
| SPMS | 10.59 ± 2.0 | |||
| PPMS | 10.15 ± 1.47 | |||
| NAA[NAWM] | ||||
| All MS | 9.90 ± 1.38 | 11.39 ± 1.31 | –1.49 (–1.91 to –1.07) | <0.001 |
| CIS | 10.11 ± 1.10 | |||
| RRMS | 9.89 ± 1.41 | |||
| SPMS | 9.83 ± 1.70 | |||
| PPMS | 9.25 ± 1.11 | |||
| NAA[GM] | ||||
| All MS | 8.83 ± 1.56 | 9.58 ± 1.70 | –0.75 (–1.29 to –0.22) | <0.001 |
| CIS | 8.70 ± 1.28 | |||
| RRMS | 8.89 ± 1.61 | |||
| SPMS | 8.57 ± 1.62 | |||
| PPMS | 8.32 ± 1.61 | |||
| Glu/NAA[NAWM] | ||||
| All MS | 0.94 ± 0.15 | 0.75 ± 0.10 | 0.19 (0.16 to 0.22) | <0.001 |
| CIS | 0.93 ± 0.08 | |||
| RRMS | 0.95 ± 0.16 | |||
| SPMS | 0.94 ± 0.12 | |||
| PPMS | 0.90 ± 0.16 | |||
| Glu/NAA[GM] | ||||
| All MS | 1.23 ± 0.18 | 1.16 ± 0.20 | 0.07 (0.01 to 0.14) | 0.022 |
| CIS | 1.25 ± 0.21 | |||
| RRMS | 1.23 ± 0.17 | |||
| SPMS | 1.26 ± 0.24 | |||
| PPMS | 1.25 ± 0.21 |
Mean concentrations ± standard deviations, given in millimoles.
a
Mean difference in millimoles and p values are given for the comparison between all MS patients versus controls using a Student t test.
CI = confidence interval; CIS = clinically isolated syndrome; Glu = glutamate; GM = gray matter; MS = multiple sclerosis; NAA = N-acetylaspartate; NAWM = normal-appearing white matter; PPMS = primary progressive multiple sclerosis; RRMS = relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis; SPMS = secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.