Objective    To observe the change of N-aceytl aspartate (NAA)

creatine(Cr)

and choline(Cho) in the thalamus of patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) and discuss the role and significance of the change in the pathogenesis of IGE.     Methods    Ten patients with IGE diagnosed specifically were enrolled in this study. Two-sides of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the thalamus were recorded. NAA

Cr

and Cho were measured by semi-quantitative analysis. The  degree of seizure was evaluated by seizure severity scale (NHS3). The correlation between the ratio of NAA/(Cr+Cho) and the score of NHS3 were analysed.     Results    NAA/Cr levels in both sides of thalamus in IGE group were significantly declined. The ratio of NAA/(Cr+Cho) was lower in IGE group than normal control group (P0.05)

and there was a negative correlation between the ratio of NAA/(Cr+Cho) and the score of NHS3 (left: r=-0.644

P=0.022; right: r=-0.733

P=0.008).     Conclusion    The common pathologic features of IGE are the loss of neuron and hyperplasia of colloid cell. MRS can exactly reflect the pathologic lesion at early time. NHS3 and the ratio of NAA/(Cr+Cho) can reflect the degree of brain lesion elicited by seizure.