Innate Immune Cell-Related Pathology in the Thalamus Signals a Risk for Disability Progression in Multiple Sclerosis.

Background And Objectives: Our aim was to investigate whether 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO) radioligand binding in gray matter (GM) predicts later disability progression in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: In this prospective imaging study, innate immune cells were investigated in the MS patient brain using PET imaging. The distribution volume ratio (DVR) of the TSPO-binding radioligand [C]PK11195 was determined in 5 GM regions: thalamus, caudate, putamen, pallidum, and cortical GM.