中央前回质子磁共振波谱在肌萎缩侧索硬化患者临床病情评估中的价值

摘要

目的 以质子磁共振波谱(1H-MRS)研究肌萎缩侧索硬化(ALS)的上运动神经元病损情况,以期探寻一种评估病情和疾病进程的指标.方法 对110例ALS和24例下运动神经元综合征(LMNS)患者以及89名健康志愿者进行双侧中央前回单体素1H-MRS检查.以上运动神经元受损体征和反射评分、ALS功能评估量表(ALS-FRS)和APPEL ALS量表(AARS)定量评定患者临床症状和体征.结果 与对照组(1.62±0.18)相比,LMNS患者(1.60±0.17)的NAA/Cr无改变,但ALS患者(1.40±0.25)与两组相比均明显降低(与对照组比较,t=-5.007,P=0.000;与LMNS组比较,t=-2.660,P=0.009);在不同分级的ALS患者中,确诊ALS患者较拟诊ALS者和可能ALS者降低更为明显(与拟诊组比较,t=-2.626,P=0.010;与可能组比较,t=-2.537,P=0.013).结合ALS患者临床表现进一步分析发现,上运动神经元体征明显的患者其NAA/Cr较不明显的患者降低更为明显,差异有统计学意义(t=-2.827,P=0.006),相关分析显示,NAA/Cr与患者的反射评分、ALS-FRS、AARS及其各分项均存在显著相关性(P＜0.05).结论 ALS中央前回1H-MRS检测在一定程度上反映患者上运动神经元受损情况,可作为评估患者病情程度的一项临床指标,但其对该病早期诊断和鉴别诊断的价值有限.%Objective To explore the significance of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(1H- MRS)in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).Methods Single-voxel1 H-MRS was carried on the preeentral gyri in 110 patients with ALS and 24 patients with lower motor neuron syndrome (LMNS) compared with 89 healthy controls.The upper motor neuron involvement of the patients was assessed by upper motor neuron(UMN)signs and the reflex scale,and the disease severity was evaluated by the AIJS function rating scale(ALS-FRS)and APPEL ALS rate scale(AARS).Results Compared with the healthy controls(1.62±0.18),the NAA/Cr of patients with ALS(1.40±0.25)remarkably decreased (t= -5.007,P=0.000),however,it did not change in patients with LMNS(1.60±0.17)as compared with that of the controls.The NAA/Cr of patients with ALS was also lower than that of patients with LMNS(t= -2.660,P=0.009).Furthermore,the NAA/Cr of patients with definite ALS was lower than those of patients with probable and possible ALS(definite vs probable:t=-2.626,P=0.010;definite vs possible: t=-2.537,P=0.013).On the other hand,patients with pronounced UMN signs had a lower NAA/Cr ratio than those with probable UMN signs(t=-2.827,P=0.006).In patients with asymmetric clinical presentation,the NAA/Cr ratio was significantly lower in the precentral gyrus contralateral to the clinically predominantly affected side(t=-2.652,P=0.011).The NAA/Cr was correlated with the reflex scale scores,ALS-FRS score,and AARS and its sub-items(P＜0.05). Conclusions 1H-MRS is useful in studying ALS.The marker NAA/Cr of precentral gyrus may reflect the UMN degeneration in ALS,which is related to the disease severity and progression.However,it might not be helpful in the early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the disease.