Abstract #0485

Srinivasan R, Hauser S, Nelson S, Pelletier D

Histopathological and animal models in Multiple Sclerosis have provided compelling evidence of a glutamate mediated disease process in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Using a two-dimensional spectroscopic imaging technique that results in an unobstructed detection of glutamate at 3T we evaluate glutamate levels in the normal appearing white matter (NAWM) and normal appearing gray matter (NAGM) in a large cohort of Multiple Sclerosis patients and compare these levels to control white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM). A significant (p<0.001) increase in glutamate in the NAWM relative to control WM was found. The glutamate levels in the NAGM in patients was comparable to control GM.