Detection of propan-1,2-diol in neonatal brain by in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Cerebral in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of 13 newborn infants displaying seizures and receiving phenobarbitone, in one case supplemented by phenytoin, showed signals from propan-1,2-diol (the injection vehicle for both these anticonvulsants). Subsequent in vitro spectroscopy of cerebro spinal fluid (CSF) from one of these infants also showed signals from this substance. The estimated in vivo propan-1,2-diol concentration (approximately 3 mM) was less than that measured in the CSF sample (14.4 mM). These observations suggest that propan-1,2-diol may accumulate in cerebral tissue and misidentification of its signals in both in vivo and in vitro proton spectra may confuse diagnoses of metabolic or other disorders.