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

STUDY DESIGN: Case report.

OBJECTIVES: 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.

SETTING: 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.

CONCLUSION: 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.