Glucose uptake of the spinal cord in patients with multiple sclerosis detected by ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT after walking.
METHODS
Case report.


OBJECTIVE
To determine [(18)F]-fluorodeoxyglucose ([(18)F]-FDG) uptake in the spinal cord of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) was compared with healthy controls after treadmill walking.


METHODS
Colorado Translational Research Imaging Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.


METHODS
Eight mildly disabled patients with MS and eight healthy subjects performed 15 min of treadmill walking at a self-selected pace. Two minutes after walking began, each participant was injected with ≈8 mCi of [(18)F]-FDG into a catheter inserted into an antecubital vein. Immediately after walking positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging was performed on each participant. Images were analyzed to determine [(18)F]-FDG uptake within the spinal cord.


RESULTS
Total spinal cord [(18)F]-FDG uptake was lower in patients with MS (1.48±0.36 and 1.55±0.33, P=0.04), specifically within the thoracic (1.32±0.27 and 1.41±0.24, P<0.01) and the lumbar (1.58±0.40 and 1.89±0.43, P=0.04) spinal cord regions.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of [(18)F]-FDG uptake in the spinal cord of patients with MS. The decreased [(18)F]-FDG uptake within the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord regions could be associated with autonomic nervous system and walking/motor dysfunctions that are often seen in patients with MS. PET/CT imaging with [(18)F]-FDG is highly useful for the demonstration of impaired glucose metabolism in the spinal cord of patients with MS.
Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
J H
JH
Kindred
Department of Radiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
P J
PJ
Koo
Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
T
T
Rudroff
D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016138:Walking
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose