Hyperpolarized Carbon Metabolic Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis
United States40 participantsStarted 2026-04-01
Plain-language summary
The main purpose of this study is to assess whether hyperpolarized carbon imaging in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients can be used to predict response to anti-CD20 disease modifying therapy. Study procedures will include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessments with a hyperpolarized pyruvate sequence, clinical assessment as well as blood markers of disease progression.
This method of imaging utilizes the Warburg effect, where innate immune cells utilize a metabolic shift to glycolysis instead of oxidative phosphorylation. In pre-clinical data, increased hyperpolarized lactate production has been found to be associated with increased microglial/macrophage infiltration in the brain. Although hyperpolarized carbon imaging in humans has been established and used in the field of oncology, this will be one of the first applications of hyperpolarized carbon the study of neuroinflammation in humans. We predict that hyperpolarized carbon imaging may have the potential to monitor and evaluate neuroinflammation in MS, and in particular the innate immune activation state that plays a role in MS progression. This imaging method may provide non-invasive monitoring of disease progression and therapy response for MS patients.
Who can participate
Age range18 Years
SexALL
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Inclusion criteria
✓. Subjects must be 18 years or older.
✓. Relapsing remitting MS, naïve to DMTs for the past two years minimum
✓. Patients must be naive to anti-CD20 therapy with plans to begin the therapy as part of their physician's multiple sclerosis treatment plan. The patients must remain on a form of anti-CD20 therapy for the entirety of their enrollment in the study.
✓. Patients enrolled will be screened for at least one MS lesion with a 10mm diameter in one plane.
Exclusion criteria
✕. Treatment with corticosteroids within 30 days prior to screening.
✕. Patients unwilling or unable to undergo MR imaging, including patients with contra-indications to MRI, such as cardiac pacemakers or non-compatible intracranial vascular clips.
✕. Poorly controlled hypertension, defined as either systolic \>160 or diastolic \>110. The addition of anti-hypertensives to control blood pressure is allowed for eligibility determination.
✕. Congestive Heart Failure ≥ NYHA Class II.
What they're measuring
1
To determine the percent changes in MS lesions, white matter, and whole brain HP 13C pyruvate metabolism measures between the pre-treatment scan and the scan obtained 1.5-months following treatment initiation.
Timeframe: From study initiation to up to 15 months after enrollment of last subject.
✕. History of clinically significant EKG abnormalities, including QT prolongation or a family history of prolonged QT syndrome.
✕. Myocardial infarction within 6 months of study entry.
✕. Individuals who are pregnant. Individuals of childbearing potential (defined below) must agree to undergo a urine pregnancy test prior to participating in the study scans. Pregnant individuals are excluded because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse effects in the unborn child secondary to administration of HP 13C pyruvate to the study participant.
✕. Individuals who are breastfeeding/chestfeeding. Breastfeeding/chestfeeding individuals are excluded because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse effects in the unborn/nursing child secondary to administration of HP 13C pyruvate to the study participant.