Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging of Neuroinflammation in Patients With Neurological Dysfunction After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV 2) Infection

Description

This clinical imaging study will use the small molecule translocator protein (TSPO) ligand, Fluorodeoxyglucose(18F)-labeled DPA-714, to visualize and quantify neuroinflammation in individuals with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) . The brain uptake of DPA-714 will be contrasted with healthy subjects.

Conditions

SARS CoV-2 Post-Acute Sequelae

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

This clinical imaging study will use the small molecule translocator protein (TSPO) ligand, Fluorodeoxyglucose(18F)-labeled DPA-714, to visualize and quantify neuroinflammation in individuals with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) . The brain uptake of DPA-714 will be contrasted with healthy subjects.

PET Imaging of Neuroinflammation in Patients With Neurological Dysfunction After SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging of Neuroinflammation in Patients With Neurological Dysfunction After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV 2) Infection

Condition
SARS CoV-2 Post-Acute Sequelae
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Birmingham

UAB, Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35249

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • 1. 18 to 65 years of age
  • 2. Healthy volunteer OR Clinical diagnosis of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC)
  • 3. High or mixed affinity binder for TSPO ligands based on genotyping for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs6971.
  • 4. PASC participants must have been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. Their neurological symptoms must have been present for at least four weeks prior to the enrollment.
  • 5. Healthy control participants must have no neurological symptoms
  • 1. Contraindication to MRI
  • 2. Pregnancy
  • 3. Lactation
  • 4. Individuals who are unable to participate in the imaging portion due to severity of their medical condition
  • 5. Chronic infectious disease (e.g. HIV, HCV)
  • 6. Viral or bacterial illness requiring medical attention and/or antibiotics within 1 month of study participation
  • 7. Diagnosis of cancer, including leukemia
  • 8. Blood or blood clotting disorder
  • 9. Except for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a diagnosis of autoimmune disease is exclusionary
  • 10. Positive urine β-hCG test day of procedure or a serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) test within 48 hours prior to the administration of \[18F\]DPA-714.11.
  • 14. Self-reported history of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury 15. Self-reported history of whiplash injury 16. Self-reported history of Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). (Individuals with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and no signs of inflammation will be allowed to participate.) 17. The following blood test results (at screening) will be exclusionary: 18. Rheumatoid Factor (RF) =\> 14 IntUnits/mL, 19. Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) \> 1:80, 20. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) \> 60mm/hour, 21.High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) \> 10mg/L, 22. Complete blood count (CBC) results indicating acute infection, anemia, or other condition, 23. T3, T4, or thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels out of normal range, 24. Fasting glucose \> 100 mg/dL, 25. Blood chemistry results indicating organ damage or other serious medical condition 26. Use of illicit substances within the past 6 months 27. Self-reported diagnosis of Type I or Type II diabetes 28. Healthy controls must not regularly take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication, analgesics (except aspirin), or sleep medication

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Alabama at Birmingham,

Jonathan McConathy, MD, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Study Record Dates

2026-06-01