FDG-PET in the Diagnosis of Autoimmune Encephalitis

The goal of this retrospective observational study is to compare brain fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) of patients with autoimmune encephalitis, normal controls and patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The main question it aims to answer is:

•is there a specific pattern of brain metabolism in patients with autoimmune encephalitis Participants data and images will be retrospectively collected from hospital records, and FDG-PET images will be analyzed by means of statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Controls will be selected from validated public databases.

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Key information

Conditions

Autoimmune Encephalitis Autoimmune Diseases Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System Immune System Diseases Nervous System Diseases

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale, Udine, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis according to clinical criteria
Brain magnetic resonance imaging performed between clinical presentation and treatment
Cerebrospinal fluid analysis performed between clinical presentation and treatment
Brain FDG-PET performed between clinical presentation and treatment
Autoantibodies testing performed between clinical presentation and treatment

Exclusion criteria

Refusal to give consent for the study

Treatment and study plan

FDG-PET

Diagnostic Test

Brain FDG-PET

Primary outcomes

SPM analysis of brain metabolic pattern

Time frame: up to 6 months

Pattern of brain metabolism in patients with autoimmune encephalitis compared with healthy controls and patients with Alzheimer's disease, drawn from validated published databases

Secondary outcomes

Sensitivity of basal ganglia hypermetabolism

Time frame: up to 6 months

Sensitivity of basal ganglia hypermetabolism for the diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis
Diagnostic delay

Time frame: up to 6 months

Comparison of diagnostic delay with and without FDG-PET

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Federico Emanuele Pozzi, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

Simone Beretta, MD, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+390392333568

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Milano Bicocca

Other

Registry information

Acronym: PEA

Important dates

Study start: 2023
Primary completion: 2027
Study completion: 2027
First posted: Aug 31, 2023
Registry last updated: Mar 24, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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