TY - JOUR
T1 - PET Reveals Inflammation around Calcified Taenia solium Granulomas with Perilesional Edema
AU - Fujita, Masahiro
AU - Mahanty, Siddhartha
AU - Zoghbi, Sami S.
AU - De Ferraris Araneta, Mariasiree
AU - Hong, Jinsoo
AU - Pike, Victor W.
AU - Innis, Robert B.
AU - Nash, Theodore E.
PY - 2013/9/12
Y1 - 2013/9/12
N2 - Objective:Neurocysticercosis, an infection with the larval form of the tapeworm, Taenia solium, is the cause of 29% of epilepsy in endemic regions. Epilepsy in this population is mostly associated with calcified granulomas; at the time of seizure recurrence 50% of those with calcifications demonstrate transient surrounding perilesional edema. Whether edema is consequence of the seizure, or a result of host inflammation directed against parasite antigens or other processes is unknown. To investigate whether perilesional edema is due to inflammation, we imaged a marker of neuroinflammation, translocater protein (TSPO), using positron emission tomography (PET) and the selective ligand 11C-PBR28.Methods:In nine patients with perilesional edema, degenerating cyst or both, PET findings were compared to the corresponding magnetic resonance images. Degenerating cysts were also studied because unlike perilesional edema, degenerating cysts are known to have inflammation. In three of the nine patients, changes in 11C-PBR28 binding were also studied over time. 11C-PBR28 binding was compared to the contralateral un-affected region.Results:11C-PBR28 binding increased by a mean of 13% in perilesional edema or degenerating cysts (P = 0.0005, n = 13 in nine patients). Among these 13 lesions, perilesional edema (n=10) showed a slightly smaller increase of 10% compared to the contralateral side (P = 0.005) than the three degenerating cysts. In five lesions with perilesional edema in which repeated measurements of 11C-PBR28 binding were done, increased binding lasted for 2-9 months.Conclusions:Increased TSPO in perilesional edema indicates an inflammatory etiology. The long duration of increased TSPO binding after resolution of the original perilesional edema and the pattern of periodic episodes is consistent with intermittent exacerbation from a continued baseline presence of low level inflammation. Novel anti-inflammatory measures may be useful in the prevention or treatment of seizures in this population.
AB - Objective:Neurocysticercosis, an infection with the larval form of the tapeworm, Taenia solium, is the cause of 29% of epilepsy in endemic regions. Epilepsy in this population is mostly associated with calcified granulomas; at the time of seizure recurrence 50% of those with calcifications demonstrate transient surrounding perilesional edema. Whether edema is consequence of the seizure, or a result of host inflammation directed against parasite antigens or other processes is unknown. To investigate whether perilesional edema is due to inflammation, we imaged a marker of neuroinflammation, translocater protein (TSPO), using positron emission tomography (PET) and the selective ligand 11C-PBR28.Methods:In nine patients with perilesional edema, degenerating cyst or both, PET findings were compared to the corresponding magnetic resonance images. Degenerating cysts were also studied because unlike perilesional edema, degenerating cysts are known to have inflammation. In three of the nine patients, changes in 11C-PBR28 binding were also studied over time. 11C-PBR28 binding was compared to the contralateral un-affected region.Results:11C-PBR28 binding increased by a mean of 13% in perilesional edema or degenerating cysts (P = 0.0005, n = 13 in nine patients). Among these 13 lesions, perilesional edema (n=10) showed a slightly smaller increase of 10% compared to the contralateral side (P = 0.005) than the three degenerating cysts. In five lesions with perilesional edema in which repeated measurements of 11C-PBR28 binding were done, increased binding lasted for 2-9 months.Conclusions:Increased TSPO in perilesional edema indicates an inflammatory etiology. The long duration of increased TSPO binding after resolution of the original perilesional edema and the pattern of periodic episodes is consistent with intermittent exacerbation from a continued baseline presence of low level inflammation. Novel anti-inflammatory measures may be useful in the prevention or treatment of seizures in this population.
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U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0074052
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0074052
M3 - Article
C2 - 24058514
AN - SCOPUS:84884185439
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 8
JO - PLoS ONE
JF - PLoS ONE
IS - 9
M1 - e74052
ER -