Neuroinflammatory PET Imaging in Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Autoimmune encephalomyelitis is a heterogeneous group of central nervous system (CNS) autoimmune diseases characterized by the production of anti-neuron-associated autoantibodies which target neuronal surface proteins, synaptic receptors and intracellular antigens. MRI, as a current first-line imaging tool of CNS inflammation, is difficult to diagnose them because the majority of patients have normal MRI images, and only a few may show local signal or structural abnormalities (including inflammation, edema, or atrophy). The 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) expression in the CNS is upregulated in response to microglia activation. DPA-714 is high affinity for binding to TSPO, making 18F-labeled DPA-714 (18F-DPA-714) PET a very promising diagnostic imaging tool for neuroinflammation in patients with autoimmune encephalomyelitis.This study aims to explore the value of 18F-DPA-714 PET in the early diagnosis, therapeutic assessment and prognosis in patients with autoimmune encephalomyelitis.