Brain Lactic Alkalosis in Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome

Abstract

Aicardi-Goutières syndrome is a rare progressive encephalopathy characterized by acquired microcephaly, basal ganglia calcification, and chronic CSF lymphocytosis, raised levels of interferon alpha in CSF and plasma and chill-blain type lesions. A possible mechanism of injury is cytokine related microangiopathy. We report brain imaging and proton (¹H) and phosphorus-31 (³¹P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) findings during the first year after birth in two patients. In patient 1 the evolution of brain metabolite ratios and intracellular pH obtained from serial ¹H (long TE) and ³¹P MRS studies are described; in patient 2 a single ¹H (short TE) MRS study is described. Imaging findings included basal ganglia calcifications, cerebral atrophy, and leukodystrophy. The MRS results demonstrated that Aicardi-Goutières syndrome is associated with reduced NAA/Cr, reflecting decreased neuronal/axonal density or viability, increased myo-inositol/Cr, reflecting gliosis or osmotic stress and a persisting brain lactic alkalosis. A brain lactic alkalosis has also been observed in those infants surviving perinatal hypoxia-ischaemia but with a poor neurodevelopmental outcome. A possible mechanism leading to brain alkalosis is up-regulation of the Na⁺/H⁺ transporter by focal areas of ischaemia related to the microangiopathy or by pro-inflammatory cytokines. Such brain alkalosis may be detrimental to cell survival and may increase glycolytic rate in astrocytes leading to an increased production of lactate.

Aicardi-Goutières syndrome - magnetic resonance spectroscopy - magnetic resonance imaging - brain lactate - brain intracellular pH - alkalosis

References

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