Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in Evaluating Cerebral Glucose Metabolism and Functional Change for Patients With Spinal Cord Injury

November 30, 2010 updated by: National Taiwan University Hospital

PET in Evaluating Cerebral Glucose Metabolism and Functional Change for Patients With Spinal Cord Injury

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in dysfunction of motor and sensory system and the hormonal secretion. Not only the change of peripheral hormonal organs, the central neurotransmitters were also affected. We consider there are some changes in cerebral physiology, anatomy or function after SCI.

Objective: Use PET imaging to investigate the brain functional difference among the SCI and control group.

Study Overview

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Detailed Description

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in dysfunction of motor and sensory system and the hormonal secretion. Not only the change of peripheral hormonal organs, the central neurotransmitters were also affected. We consider there are some changes in cerebral physiology, anatomy or function after SCI. Transcranial magnetic stimulation, magnetic coil or EEG were used to study the phenomenon of cortical reorganization in post-injury of spinal cord. Now functional imaging render the researcher easier to understand adaptive changes of cerebral cortex in patients with SCI. Due to the development of positron emission tomography (PET) and adequate supply of 18-F-deoxyglucose (FDG), the cerebral glucose metabolism and blood flow were approached in easier way. PET was used in patients with cervical compressive myelopathy to evaluate the glucose metabolic rate. Standardized uptake value of FDG and its association with neurological status of pre- and post-operation had been studied. PET was also used to assess the effect of a transverse cord lesion on cerebral energy metabolism in view of sensorimotor reorganization. In addition to FDG, 15O-H2O was applied to evaluate the activation adaptation of post-SCI cerebrum. 13N-NH3 was also used to study the cerebral blood flow by its concentration in brain tissue. Recently the alteration of regional cerebral blood flow was visualized by brain SPECT. We want to know the impact of spinal lesion and function impairment on brain activation in patients with SCI. 6-[18F]fluorodopa (18F-FDOPA) is indicator of brain presynaptic dopaminergic function, which can be used to evaluate the changes of brain dopamine. WE will use 18F-FDOPA-PET to investigate its difference among the SCI and control group.

In our three-year study, 40 men with SCI will be recruited each year, 40 age-matched men as control. In the first year study, FDG-PET will be used to assess the cerebral metabolism, then the glucose metabolic rate of cerebrum and spinal cord will be analyzed. The mechanism of cerebral adaptation after SCI may be clarified. 13N-NH3 will be used in the second year to evaluate the cerebral blood flow in the period of attempted and true action, then their difference will be analyzed by statistical parametric mapping. The picture of activated brain area will be compared between study and control group to investigate the reorganization of cerebral cortex after SCI. In the third year, we will use 18F-FDOPA to evaluate the brain presynaptic dopaminergic function among SCI and control group. Thus, we will delineate the effect of SCI on cerebral function by PET.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Anticipated)

160

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Taiwan
      • Taipei, Taiwan, Taiwan, 100
        • Recruiting
        • National Taiwan University Hospital
        • Contact:

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.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

right handed patients with spinal cord injury

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. age above 18 years old
  2. spinal cord injury for over 1 year

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. epilepsy
  2. psychiatric disorder
  3. history of central neurologic system infection
  4. Parkinson's disease
  5. Alcoholic disease
  6. vitamine deficiency

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
normal control
spinal cord injury 1
spinal cord injury 2
spinal cord injury 3

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

National Taiwan University Hospital

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Yen-Ho Wang, M.D, National Taiwan University Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

August 1, 2007

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

August 1, 2011

Study Completion (Anticipated)

December 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 26, 2009

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 26, 2009

First Posted (Estimate)

June 29, 2009

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

December 1, 2010

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 30, 2010

Last Verified

November 1, 2010

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 200612018R
  • NSC 96-2314-B-002-085-MY3

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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