Open AccessA simulation study on the impact of the blood flow-dependent component in [18F]AV45 SUVR in Alzheimer’s disease
Author(s) -
Julie Ottoy,
Jeroen Verhaeghe,
Ellis Niemantsverdriet,
Sebastiaan Engelborghs,
Sigrid Stroobants,
Steven Staelens
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0189155
Subject(s) - precuneus , blood flow , cerebral blood flow , medicine , white matter , biomarker , nuclear medicine , cognitive impairment , cardiology , chemistry , biology , disease , neuroscience , magnetic resonance imaging , cognition , biochemistry , radiology
Background Increased brain uptake on [ 18 F]AV45 PET is a biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The standardised uptake value ratio (SUVR) is widely used for quantification but is subject to variability. Here we evaluate how SUVR of a cortical target region is affected by blood flow changes in the target and two frequently used reference regions. Methods Regional baseline time-activity curves (TACs) were simulated based on metabolite-corrected plasma input functions and pharmacokinetic parameters obtained from our previously acquired data in healthy control (HC; n = 10), amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI; n = 15) and AD cohorts (n = 9). Blood flow changes were simulated by altering the regional tracer delivery rate K1 (and clearance rate k2) between -40% and +40% from its regional baseline value in the target region and/or cerebellar grey (CB) or subcortical white matter (WM) reference regions. The corresponding change in SUVR was calculated at 50–60 min post-injection. Results A -40% blood flow reduction in the target resulted in an increased SUVR target (e.g. SUVR precuneus : +10.0±5% in HC, +2.5±2% in AD), irrespective of the used reference region. A -40% blood flow reduction in the WM reference region increased SUVR WM (+11.5±4% in HC, +13.5±3% in AD) while a blood flow reduction in CB decreased SUVR CB (-9.5±6% in HC, -5.5±2% in AD), irrespective of the used target region. A -40% flow reduction in both the precuneus and reference WM (i.e., global flow change) induced an increased SUVR (+22.5±8% in HC, +16.0±4% in AD). When considering reference CB instead, SUVR was decreased by less than -5% (both in HC and AD). Conclusion Blood flow changes introduce alterations in [ 18 F]AV45 PET SUVR. Flow reductions in the CB and WM reference regions resulted in a decreased and increased SUVR of the target, respectively. SUVR was more affected by global blood flow changes when considering WM instead of CB normalization.