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Multimodal Imaging of MS Reveals the Smoldering Inflammation

Multimodal Imaging of MS Reveals the Smoldering Inflammation

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04126772
Acronym
PLAQ-MS
Enrollment
40
Registered
2019-10-15
Start date
2019-02-27
Completion date
2025-12-31
Last updated
2025-01-15

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis

Brief summary

To evaluate active MS plaque evolution with conventional MRI, QSM-post processing, TSPO-PET imaging and P2X7-PET imaging.

Detailed description

Objective: To establish the QSM-MRI-method as a part of MS-patient research protocol in TPC and to quantify the time and space dependent correlation of QSM-MRI signal and PET-imaging signal with both 11C-PK11195 and 11C-SMW139 radioligands in the brain of MS-patients with active disease, secondary progressive MS-patients and healthy controls. Background: In MS brain the inflammatory lesions change over time from active to chronic active and finally to chronic inactive plaques. Conventional MRI-imaging is used to detect the lesions but it is not able to differentiate the plaque types. The most acute lesions with blood-brain-barrier defect can be identified using conventional MRI and gadolinium enhancing, but follow-up of the later plaque development with microglial activation at plaque edge is not possible using MRI. Furthermore, the diffuse microglial activation in the NAWM is not detectable with conventional MRI. In previous studies it has been shown that chronic active plaques have a rim of active microglial cells around them. With QSM-MRI method it is possible to detect and quantify these iron containing active microglia cells around the chronic active plaque. Active microglial cells can also be detected with PET imaging and TSPO-binding radioligand 11C-PK11195 or P2X7 binding radioligand 11C-SMW139. The investigators expect that the microglial activation signals detected with QSM-MRI and PET are co-localized and that these methods would help to differentiate the plaque types and to evaluate the MS plaque evolution. Study population: 10 MS-patients with acute gadolinium enhancing ≥0,5cm diameter lesion will be imaged at baseline and 4 and 18 months after that. For comparison 10 secondary progressive patients and 20 healthy controls will be imaged at baseline. Methods: Clinical evaluation, brain QSM-MRI and PET imaging with 11C-PK11195 radiotracer will be performed at baseline, 4 months and 18 months. PET imaging with 11C-CSMW139 radiotracer will be performed at 4 months and 18 months. For healthy controls, brain QSM-MRI, PET imaging with 11C-PK11195 radiotracer and PET imaging with 11C-SMW139 radiotracer will be performed at baseline. For 12 healthy controls a test-retest imaging with 11C-SMW139 radiotracer will be performed.

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

Turku University Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER_GOV

Study design

Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

Active MS-patients: * Informed consent form * At least one 0,5 cm diameter active gadolinium enhancing lesion detected lately * Diagnosed MS-disease according to McDonald criteria SPMS patients * Informed consent form * Diagnosed MS-disease according to McDonald criteria * SPMS disease Healthy controls: * Informed consent form * healthy * age and sex matched with MS-patients in RRMS and SPMS groups

Exclusion criteria

MS-patients: * Patients suffering from another brain disease or other autoimmune disease in addition to multiple sclerosis * Steroid treatment 4 weeks prior to the scan * Significant pathology in the MRI scan other than MS-related lesions * Patients suffering from claustrophobia or panic disorder, or patients who have exhibited hypersensitivity of PET markers (practical obstacle to the scan) * Exposure to experimental radioactivity in the last 12 months such that the dosimetry threshold would be exceeded due to participation in the study * Age over 70 Healthy controls: * autoimmune disease, CNS disease or other serious disease * Steroid treatment 4 weeks prior to the scan or other regular medication * persons suffering from claustrophobia or panic disorder, or persons who have exhibited hypersensitivity of PET markers (practical obstacle to the scan) * Exposure to experimental radioactivity in the last 12 months such that the dosimetry threshold would be exceeded due to participation in the study * Age over 70

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
11C-PK11195 binding in MS patient brainBaseline, 4 months 18 monthsChange in microglia-activity in MS patients during 18 months as measured by \[11C\]PK11195 PET imaging
11C-SMW139 binding in MS patient brainBaseline, 4 months 18 monthsChange in microglia-activity in MS patients during 18 months as measured by \[11C\]SMW139 PET imaging
QSM-signal in MS patient brainBaseline, 4 months 18 monthsChange in microglia-activity in MS patients during 18 months as measured by QSM-MRI

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
MRI metricsBaseline, 4 months, 18 monthsTo evaluate lesion load of the white matter MS plaques
EDSSBaseline, 4 months, 18 monthsExpanded Disability Status Scale. The scale ranges from 0 to 10 in 0.5 unit increments that represent higher levels of disability.
11C-PK11195 binding in healthy control brainBaselineChange in microglia-activity in healthy controls during 18 months as measured by PET imaging and \[11C\]PK11195
Fatigue severity scaleBaseline, 4 months, 18 monthsFatigue Severity Scale is a self-reported, 9-item fatigue scale. Participants rate all 9 items on a 7-point Likert scale (1-2-3-4-5-6-7) depending on how appropriate they felt the statement applied to them over the preceding week. The total score is calculated by adding up the answer from each item and divide by 9. Lower scores indicate better outcomes. Maximum score is 7.
Modified Fatigue Impact ScaleBaseline, 4 months, 18 monthsThe Modified Fatigue Impact Scale is a self-report survey that contains 21 items. Each item is rated 0-4. Higher scores indicate a greater impact of fatigue on a person's activities.
MSFCBaseline, 4 months, 18 monthsMultiple Sclerosis Composite Score which consists of three assessments of walking speed, processing speed and finger dexterity. The scores are combined to provide a Z-score. Lower scores represent greater abnormality.
11C-SMW139 binding in healthy control brainBaselineChange in microglia-activity in healthy controls during 18 months as measured by PET imaging \[11C\]SMW139
QSM-signal in healthy control brainBaselineChange in microglia-activity in healthy controls during 18 months as measured by QSM-MRI

Countries

Finland

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026