Correspondence

Case 15-1998: Elevated N-Acetylaspartic Acid Activity in Canavan's Disease

N Engl J Med 1998; 339:636August 27, 1998

Article

To the Editor:

In the discussion of Case 15-1998 (May 14 issue),1 Canavan's disease is said to be characterized by “the absence of N-acetylaspartic acid activity on magnetic resonance spectroscopy.” In actuality, N-acetylaspartic acid is elevated in Canavan's disease.2,3

Jonathan Breslau, M.D.
Radiological Associates of Sacramento, Sacramento, CA 95814

3 References

1. 1

   Case Records of the Massachusetts General Hospital (Case 15-1998). N Engl J Med 1998;338:1448-1456
   Full Text | Web of Science | Medline

2. 2

   Grodd W, Krageloh-Mann I, Klose U, Sauter R. Metabolic and destructive brain disorders in children: findings with localized proton MR spectroscopy. Radiology 1991;181:173-181
   Web of Science | Medline

3. 3

   Marks HG, Caro PA, Wang ZY, et al. Use of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and localized 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy in Canavan's disease: a case report. Ann Neurol 1991;30:106-110
   CrossRef | Web of Science | Medline