Citation

Vagnozzi R, Signoretti S, Floris R, Marziali S, Manara M, Amorini AM, Belli A, Di Pietro V, Dʼurso S, Pastore FS, Lazzarino G, Tavazzi B. J. Head Trauma Rehabil. 2013; 28(4): 284-292.

Affiliation

Division of Neurotraumatology and Neuroradiology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata," Rome, Italy (Drs Vagnozzi, Floris, Marziali, D'Urso, and Pastore); Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosciences-Head and Neck Surgery, "San Camillo" Hospital, Rome, Italy (Dr Signoretti); Association of Sports Physicians Parma, F.M.S.I., Parma, Italy (Dr Manara); Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy (Drs Amorini and Tavazzi); Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy (Dr Lazzarino); and Neuropharmacology and Neurobiology Section, School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences and NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre, University of Birmingham and University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom (Drs Belli and Di Pietro).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/HTR.0b013e3182795045

PMID

23249772

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:: To assess the time course changes in N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and creatine (Cr) levels in the brain of athletes who suffered a sport-related concussion. PARTICIPANTS:: Eleven nonconsecutive athletes with concussive head injury and 11 sex- and age-matched control volunteers MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:: At 3, 15, 30, and 45 days postinjury, athletes were examined by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy for the determination of NAA, Cr, and choline (Cho) levels. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic data recorded for the control group were used for comparison. RESULTS:: Compared with controls (2.18 ± 0.19), athletes showed an increase in the NAA/Cr ratio at 3 (2.71 ± 0.16; P < .01) and 15 (2.54 ± 0.21; P < .01) days postconcussion, followed by a decrease and subsequent normalization at 30 (1.95 ± 0.16, P < .05) and 45 (2.17 ± 0.20; P < .05) days postconcussion. The NAA/Cho ratio decreased at 3, 15, and 30 days postinjury (P < .01 compared with controls), with no differences observed in controls at 45 days postconcussion. Compared with controls, significant increase in the Cho/Cr ratio after 3 (+33%, P < .01) and 15 (+31.5%, P < .01) days postinjury was observed whereas no differences were recorded at 30 and 45 days postinjury. CONCLUSIONS:: This cohort of athletes indicates that concussion may cause concomitant decrease in cerebral NAA and Cr levels. This provokes longer time for normalization of metabolism, as well as longer time for resolution of concussion-associated clinical symptoms.

Language: en