Abstract

The objective was to determine whether the use of intermediate echo times (135 ms) in proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS) detects a homogenous pattern in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in HIV-1 infected people, and to confirm the results of previous studies.

 Six patients infected with HIV-1, with PML established by biopsy, and six healthy age and sex matched volunteers were evaluated to define their spectroscopic pattern. ¹H-MRS spectra performed at 1.5 T were obtained with the STEAM sequence: TE/TM/TR, 20 ms/13.7 ms/2000 ms; 2500 Hz, size 2048 points, 256 acquisitions (STEAM-20) and with the PRESS sequence; TE/TR, 135 ms/2000 ms; 2500 Hz, size 2048 points, 256 acquisitions (PRESS-135). A single voxel was placed on the lesions and on the parieto-occipital white matter of controls. The peaks of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), myoinositol (mI), lactate, and lipids were considered, and the results were expressed using creatine as reference.

 Spectra of PML lesions were characterised by significantly reduced NAA, lactate presence, and by significantly increased Cho and lipids compared with control group values.

 These results indicate that ¹H-MRS detects a homogenous pattern in PML lesions. Recent studies, together with this, suggest that ¹H-MRS may help in the diagnostic approach to patients with suspected PML lesions associated with AIDS.