Widespread Glial Activation in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Revealed by 18F-PBR06 PET: A Clinically Feasible, Individualized Approach

Clin Nucl Med. 2021 Feb 1;46(2):136-137. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000003398.

Abstract

A 64-year-old man with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (Expanded Disability Status Scale 3.5) underwent PET using 18F-PBR06, a second-generation 18-kDa translocator protein ligand targeting activated brain microglia and astrocytes. Voxel-by-voxel statistical comparison of patient's PET images (acquired 60-90 minutes postinjection) with a healthy control data set was performed to generate a 3-dimensional z-score map of increased radiotracer uptake, which showed widespread increased glial activation in normal-appearing cerebral white matter, white matter lesional and perilesional areas, brainstem and cerebellum. In contrast, patient's 3-T MRI scan showed only a few small white matter brain lesions without contrast enhancement.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acetanilides*
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / pathology
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / diagnostic imaging*
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / metabolism
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / pathology*
  • Neuroglia / pathology*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*

Substances

  • Acetanilides
  • N-fluoroacetyl-N-(2,5-dimethoxybenzyl)-2-phenoxyaniline