Published ahead of print on April 1, 2010
doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A2081

American Journal of Neuroradiology 31:E49, May 2010
© 2010 American Society of Neuroradiology

J.R. McConnell^a
aGreater Regional Medical Center Creston, Iowa

Foerster et al¹ were right to report their proton MR spectroscopy findings in children with hepatic encephalopathy but were wrong to claim to be the first. I draw your attention to their article, in which the authors make the statement, “Our study is the first…” This kind of statement adds nothing to the scientific or educational value of the report and is especially concerning because it is not true. In 1995, we used proton MR spectroscopy to assess children with hepatic encephalopathy before and after liver transplantation.² Both articles show that brain spectroscopy is helpful in assessing hepatic encephalopathy in children.

References

1. Foerster BR, Conklin LS, Petrou M, et al. Minimal hepatic encephalopathy in children: evaluation with proton MR spectroscopy.AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2009;30:1610–23. Epub 2009 Jun 9[Abstract/Free Full Text]
2. McConnell JR, Antonson DL, Ong CS, et al. Proton spectroscopy of brain glutamine in acute liver failure. Hepatology 1995;22:69–74[CrossRef][Medline]