Neuroimmune activation in temporal lobe epilepsy patients with worsening seizure following the COVID-19 pandemic: A [¹⁸F]DPA-714 PET/MR study.

ABSTRACT: Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) frequently experience worsening epilepsy following COVID-19, referred to as post-COVID-19 active TLE. While neuroinflammatory changes are suspected in these patients, measurements of both central and systemic inflammation in the brain remain unexplored. We investigate whether the translocator protein standardized uptake value ratio (TSPO SUVr), a quantifiable marker of neuroinflammation using positron emission tomography (PET), is elevated in the brains of patients with post-COVID-19 active TLE. In addition, we examine correlations between TSPO SUVr and inflammatory factors to identify potential peripheral blood inflammatory predictors of post-COVID-19 active epilepsy. Our study highlights the presence of widespread neuroinflammation in the brain

SUBMITTER: Xiao L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12857733 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature