RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Neuroinflammation in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: An <sup>11</sup>C-(<em>R</em>)-PK11195 PET Study
JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine
JO J Nucl Med
FD Society of Nuclear Medicine
SP jnumed.113.131045
DO 10.2967/jnumed.113.131045
A1 Nakatomi, Yasuhito
A1 Mizuno, Kei
A1 Ishii, Akira
A1 Wada, Yasuhiro
A1 Tanaka, Masaaki
A1 Tazawa, Shusaku
A1 Onoe, Kayo
A1 Fukuda, Sanae
A1 Kawabe, Joji
A1 Takahashi, Kazuhiro
A1 Kataoka, Yosky
A1 Shiomi, Susumu
A1 Yamaguti, Kouzi
A1 Inaba, Masaaki
A1 Kuratsune, Hirohiko
A1 Watanabe, Yasuyoshi
YR 2014
UL http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/early/2014/03/21/jnumed.113.131045.abstract
AB Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is a disease characterized by chronic, profound, disabling, and unexplained fatigue. Although it is hypothesized that brain inflammation is involved in the pathophysiology of CFS/ME, there is no direct evidence of neuroinflammation in patients with CFS/ME. Activation of microglia or astrocytes is related to neuroinflammation. 11C-(R)-(2-chlorophenyl)-N-methyl-N-(1-methylpropyl)-3-isoquinoline-carboxamide (11C-(R)-PK11195) is a ligand of PET for a translocator protein that is expressed by activated microglia or astrocytes. We used 11C-(R)-PK11195 and PET to investigate the existence of neuroinflammation in CFS/ME patients. Methods: Nine CFS/ME patients and 10 healthy controls underwent 11C-(R)-PK11195 PET and completed questionnaires about fatigue, fatigue sensation, cognitive impairments, pain, and depression. To measure the density of translocator protein, nondisplaceable binding potential (BPND) values were determined using linear graphical analysis with the cerebellum as a reference region. Results: The BPND values of 11C-(R)-PK11195 in the cingulate cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, midbrain, and pons were 45%–199% higher in CFS/ME patients than in healthy controls. In CFS/ME patients, the BPND values of 11C-(R)-PK11195 in the amygdala, thalamus, and midbrain positively correlated with cognitive impairment score, the BPND values in the cingulate cortex and thalamus positively correlated with pain score, and the BPND value in the hippocampus positively correlated with depression score. Conclusion: Neuroinflammation is present in widespread brain areas in CFS/ME patients and was associated with the severity of neuropsychologic symptoms. Evaluation of neuroinflammation in CFS/ME patients may be essential for understanding the core pathophysiology and for developing objective diagnostic criteria and effective medical treatments.