A combined microdialysis and FDG-PET study of glucose metabolism in head injury.
BACKGROUND
Microdialysis continuously monitors the chemistry of a small focal volume of the cerebral extracellular space. Positron emission tomography (PET) establishes metabolism of the whole brain but only for the scan's duration. This study's objective was to apply these techniques together, in patients with traumatic brain injury, to assess the relationship between microdialysis (extracellular glucose, lactate, pyruvate, and the lactate/pyruvate (L/P) ratio as a marker of anaerobic metabolism) and PET parameters of glucose metabolism using the glucose analogue [(18)F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). In particular, we aimed to determine the fate of glucose in terms of differential metabolism to pyruvate and lactate.


METHODS
Microdialysis catheters (CMA70 or CMA71) were inserted into the cerebral cortex of 17 patients with major head injury. Microdialysis was performed during FDG-PET scans with regions of interest for PET analysis defined by the location of the gold-tipped microdialysis catheter. Microdialysate analysis was performed on a CMA600 analyser.


RESULTS
There was significant linear relationship between the PET-derived parameter of glucose metabolism (regional cerebral metabolic rate of glucose; CMRglc) and levels of lactate (r = 0.778, p < 0.0001) and pyruvate (r = 0.799, p < 0.0001), but not with the L/P ratio.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that in this population of patients, glucose was metabolised to both lactate and pyruvate, but was not associated with an increase in the L/P ratio. This suggests an increase in glucose metabolism to both lactate and pyruvate, as opposed to a shift towards anaerobic metabolism.
Hutchinson
Peter J
PJ
Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK. pjah2@cam.ac.uk
O'Connell
Mark T
MT
Seal
Alex
A
Nortje
Jurgens
J
Timofeev
Ivan
I
Al-Rawi
Pippa G
PG
Coles
Jonathan P
JP
Fryer
Timothy D
TD
Menon
David K
DK
Pickard
John D
JD
Carpenter
Keri L H
KL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D045604:Extracellular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006019:Glycolysis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D017551:Microdialysis / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D019344:Lactic Acid; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D005947:Glucose