Status: Open to recruitment
Background
[11C]PK11195 is a radioactive compound which binds to a protein on the surface of the mitochondria. This interaction releases a signal that can be detected using a specialised positron emission tomography (PET) scanner. This allows us to estimate the amount of mitochondria in different regions of the brain in patients with mitochondrial disease compared to people who do not have a mitochondrial disease.
Objective
This is a small pilot study to see if we can use the molecule [11C]PK11195 to diagnose and study the progression of mitochondrial disease. We aim to determine whether [11C]PK11195 binding is abnormal in the brains and central nervous system of patients with mitochondrial disease.
Who can take part ?
Individuals (aged 18-70 years old) diagnosed with mitochondrial disease caused by:
- Mutations in mtDNA (e.g. MELAS)
- Mutations in nuclear genes leading to mitochondrial disease
What is involved ?
The study involves a screening visit and one study visit at the Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre in Cambridge.
Study visit
We will inject a small amount of [11C]PK11195 into participants’ bloodstream, then carry out a combined PET/MRI scan lasting approximately 90 minutes. Participants will also be asked to undergo a neurological assessment.
What did we find ?
Preliminary results from the first cohort of patients in our pilot study were recently published in the journal Neurology, and can be found here.