1H chemical shift imaging of the brain in guanidino methyltransferase deficiency, a creatine deficiency syndrome; guanidinoacetate accumulation in the gray matter

Eur Radiol. 2005 Sep;15(9):1923-6. doi: 10.1007/s00330-005-2670-8. Epub 2005 Apr 27.

Abstract

MR spectroscopy results in a mild case of guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (GAMT) deficiency are presented. The approach differs from previous MRS studies in the acquisition of a chemical shift imaging spectral map showing gray and white matter with the corresponding spectra in one overview. MR spectroscopy revealed guanidinoacetate (GAA) in the absence of creatine. New is that GAA signals are more prominent in gray matter than in white. In the prevailing view, that enzyme deficiency is localized in liver and pancreas and that all GAA is transported into the brain from the blood and the cerebrospinal fluid, this would be compatible with a more limited uptake and/or better clearance of GAA from the white matter compared to the grey matter.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aspartic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Aspartic Acid / analysis
  • Brain Chemistry*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Choline / analysis
  • Creatine / analysis
  • Creatine / blood
  • Creatine / deficiency*
  • Glutamic Acid / analysis
  • Glycine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Glycine / analysis
  • Glycine / blood
  • Glycine / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Guanidinoacetate N-Methyltransferase / deficiency*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods
  • Male
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • Aspartic Acid
  • Glutamic Acid
  • Hydrogen
  • N-acetylaspartate
  • Guanidinoacetate N-Methyltransferase
  • glycocyamine
  • Creatine
  • Choline
  • Glycine