Table 2.
Summary of metabolite changes following traumatic brain injury (TBI) detectable with in vivo 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
| Spectrum peak (ppm) | Physiology | Change in acute TBI | Change in chronic TBI | Correlation to prognosis | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N-acetylaspartate | 2.02 | Neuron viability | ↓↓ | ↓ | ✓ |
| Creatine | 3.02 | Adenosine triphosphate generation and energy metabolism | ↔ | ||
| Choline | 3.24 | Cell membrane turnover | ↑↑ | ↑ | ✓ |
| Myoinositol | 3.5 | Osmoregulation | ↑ | ✓ | |
| Glx [glutamate (Glu) + glutamine] | 2.2–2.4 | Excitatory neurotransmitter (Glu) | ↑↑ | ✓ | |
| Lactate | 1.33 | Mitochondrial dysfunction | ↑ | ✓ | |
| Gamma-aminobutyric acid | 2.2–2.4 | Inhibitory neurotransmitter | ↓ | ||
| Lipid | 1.3 | Cell membrane | ↑ | ✓ |
↑: increase in metabolite; ↓: decrease in metabolite; ↔: no significant change or insufficient data; ✓: potential clinical use as a prognostic predictor.