Neuroinflammation in GAD65 Antibody-Associated Epilepsy Measured Using [18F]DPA-714 PET/MRI.

The timing for initiating immunotherapy in patients with glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) antibody-associated epilepsy is a challenge. We used the translocator protein radioligand [18F]DPA-714 and PET to evaluate brain microglial activation. [18F]DPA-714 PET brain images of 11 patients with GAD65 antibody-associated epilepsy and seven controls were analyzed. Patients with acute symptomatic seizures presented higher [18F]DPA-714 SUVR in the hippocampus than did controls and patients with chronic temporal lobe epilepsy. Our findings highlight that [18F]DPA-714 PET/MRI represents a useful tool to assess neuroinflammation in patients with GAD65 antibody-associated epilepsy.