Role of positron emission tomography for central nervous system involvement in systemic autoimmune diseases: status and perspectives.

Role of positron emission tomography for central nervous system involvement in systemic autoimmune diseases: status and perspectives. Curr Med Chem. 2017 May 23;: Authors: Mauro D, Barbagallo G, D'Angelo S, Pasqualina S, Naty S, Bruno C, Olivieri I, Grembiale RD, Ursini F Abstract In the last years, an increasing interest in molecular imaging has been raised by the extending potential of positron emission tomography (PET). The role of PET imaging, originally confined to the oncology setting, is continuously extending thanks to the development of novel radiopharmaceutical and to the implementation of hybrid imaging techniques, where PET scans are combined with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) in order to improve spatial resolution. Early preclinical studies suggested that 18F-FDG PET can detect neuroinflammation; new developing radiopharmaceuticals targeting more specifically inflammation-related molecules are moving in this direction. Neurological involvement is a distinct feature of various systemic autoimmune diseases, i.e. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) or Behcet's disease(BD). Although MRI is largely considered the gold-standard imaging technique for the detection of Central Nervous System(CNS) involvement in these disorders, several patients complain of neuropsychiatric symptoms (headache, epilepsy, anxiety or depression) in the absence of any significant MRI finding; in such patients the diagnosis...
Source: Current Medicinal Chemistry - Category: Chemistry Authors: Tags: Curr Med Chem Source Type: research