In Vivo Imaging of Neuroinflammatory Targets in Treatment-Resistant Epilepsy

This article reviews recent research on in vivo imaging of neuroinflammatory targets in patients with treatment-resistant, non-lesional epilepsy.Recent FindingsA number of advanced approaches based on imaging neuroinflammation are being implemented in order to assist localization of epileptogenic onset zone. The most exciting tools are based on radioligand-based nuclear imaging or revisiting of existing technology in novel ways. The greatest limitations stem from gaps in knowledge about the exact function of neuroinflammatory targets (e.g., neurotoxic or neuroprotective). Further, lingering questions about each approach ’s specificity, reliability, and sensitivity must be addressed, and clinical utility must be validated before any novel method is incorporated into mainstream clinical practice.SummaryCurrent applications of imaging neuroinflammation in humans are limited and underutilized, but offer hope for finding sensitive and specific neuroimaging-based biomarker(s). Future work necessitates appreciation of investigations to date, significant findings, and neuroinflammatory targets worth exploring further.
Source: Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research