FDG-PETMRI in RRMS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot study to assess the feasibility of [18]-FDG PET-MRI scans in patients to assess inflammation in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS)
IRAS ID
313624
Contact name
Azza Ismail
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune condition which causes an inflammatory response which damages the brain and the spinal cord. MS is the commonest cause of neurological disability in young adults. Previous research has showed disturbances in the chemical reactions that change carbohydrates to energy in the brain cells in patients with MS. The effects of this disruption are not fully understood.
Currently, MRI scanning forms the cornerstone for MS diagnosis and clinical follow up. MRI is sensitive in demonstrating focal areas of inflammation but cannot detect widespread low-level inflammation which appears like normal tissue. A positron emission tomography (PET) scan produces real-time images of organs and tissues using an injectable radioactive chemical (radiotracer) and a PET scanner. Previous studies showed that PET imaging using a radiotracer that is able to detect changes in glucose metabolism can detect wide spread areas of inflammation and brain cell damage in MS patients which cannot be detected by standard MRI. A PET-MRI scan combines images from an MRI scan with PET scan images. PET-MRI scanning may enable the measurement of the effects of new treatments aimed at reducing inflammation and neurodegeneration.
This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of undertaking PETMRI scans in patients with RRMS to better our understanding of performing PET-MRI imaging in MS patients in Sheffield and gain experience on how to overcome the potential challenges and technical issues of this new imaging technique. We will do this by recruiting 4-6 patients who will be randomly allocated to either stem cell transplantation or standard disease modifying therapies for MS as part of the STAR-MS trial. Participants will undertake a PET-MRI scan before they receive their treatment and 12 months after treatment and have assessments to evaluate disability and enable correlations to be made with brain PET-MRI activity.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/YH/0162
Date of REC Opinion
5 Oct 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion