Glutamine in the cerebellum by magnetic resonance for the diagnosis of Autism

Background: Brain metabolites are involved in processes of excitation and cellular transmission and can provide the sites and indices of synaptic activity and plasticity in addition to supporting inferences about the ongoing pathophysiology. Among them, changes in glutamate levels are involved in the regulation of neurotransmitter activity and are responsible for several behavioral and electrophysiological phenotypes in autism including deficits in cognitive and motor behavior and social reward.

Objective: To study the changes in biochemical metabolites in the cerebellum by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) for diagnosis of autism.

Methods: One hundred patients with ASD, we randomly selected and submitted to imaging exams in their CNS by magnetic resonance with nuclear proton spectroscopy. All selected patients were examined by the same doctor and their imaging exams were performed by the same neuro-radiology professional.

Conclusions: Magnetic resonance imaging with cerebellar spectroscopy is a new tool for the diagnosis and management of autism and can serve all physicians, even if they are not specialists, as a guide for this difficult to manage condition. It can serve both as a means of diagnosis and as a clinical follow-up for the treatment of ASD.