1H-MRS of brain metabolites in migraine without aura: absolute quantification using the phantom replacement technique

Several studies have demonstrated differences in migraine patients when performing H-1-MRS; however, no studies have performed H-1-MRS in migraine without aura (MwoA), the most common migraine subtype. The aim of this H-1-MRS study was to elucidate whether any differences could be found between MwoA patients and controls by performing absolute quantification. H-1-MRS was performed in 22 MwoA patients and 25 control subjects. Absolute quantification was based on the phantom replacement technique. Corrections were made for T (1) and T (2) relaxation effects, CSF content, coil loading and temperature. The method was validated by phantom measurements and in vivo measurements in the occipital visual cortex. After calibration of the quantification procedure and the implementation of the required correction factors, measured absolute concentrations in the visual cortex of MwoA patients showed no significant differences compared to controls, in contrast to relative results obtained in earlier studies. In this study, we demonstrate the implementation of quantitative in vivo H-1-MRS spectroscopy in migraine patients. Despite rigorous quantification, no spectroscopic abnormalities could be found in patients with migraine without aura.