Brain scan tracer measures inflammation in people with chronic pain and fatigue
Uses a brain PET scan tracer to measure inflammation in chronic pain patients.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Assessment of Neuroinflammation in Central Inflammatory Disorders Using [F-18]DPA-714.
Key facts
- Where
- Birmingham, United StatesSee the site
- Phase
- Phase 1
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults with multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, and for healthy volunteers. It uses a brain scan to look at inflammation in the brain.
- Age
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- A clinical diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, or fibromyalgia by the 2016 American College of Rheumatology criteria, or chronic fatigue syndrome by the 1994 Fukuda criteria. Healthy volunteers can also join.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Cannot have an MRI scan
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Chronic infectious disease such as HIV or HCV
- Cancer, including leukemia
- Autoimmune disease (except multiple sclerosis)
Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 65 years old?
Source: NCT03759522, who can take part
Where in United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical CenterBirmingham, United StatesContact: Jonathan McConathy, MDTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Trial code
- NCT03759522
- Record updated
- 2 June 2026
- Original description
The primary objective of this study is to measure the concentration and the regional brain distribution of activated brain microglia/macrophages using the PET radiopharmaceutical [F-18]DPA-714 in individuals with chronic pain and fatigue suspected to be associated with neuroinflammation. The PET tracer [F-18]DPA-714 binds to the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO, also known as the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor) in the mitochondria of activated microglia/macrophages and provides a non-invasive measure of neuroinflammation. The primary objective of this study is to determine if pain and fatigue patients have higher levels of neuroinflammation than HC individuals as measured with [F-18]DPA-714-PET/MRI.Read full original descriptionShow less
Assessment of Neuroinflammation in Central Inflammatory Disorders Using [F-18]DPA-714.
The primary objective of this study is to measure the concentration and the regional brain distribution of activated brain microglia/macrophages using the PET radiopharmaceutical [F-18]DPA-714 in individuals with chronic pain and fatigue suspected to be associated with neuroinflammation. The PET tracer [F-18]DPA-714 binds to the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO, also known as the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor) in the mitochondria of activated microglia/macrophages and provides a non-invasive measure of neuroinflammation. The primary objective of this study is to determine if pain and fatigue patients have higher levels of neuroinflammation than HC individuals as measured with [F-18]DPA-714-PET/MRI.
Inclusion: 18 to 65 years of age; Healthy volunteer OR Clinical diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) OR Meets 2016 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) case definition criteria for fibromyalgia OR Meets 1994 Fukuda case definition criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Exclusion: Currently enrolled in a clinical trial utilizing experimental therapies; Individuals who are unable to participate in the imaging portion due to severity of their medical condition; Chronic infectious disease (e.g. HIV, HCV); Viral or bacterial illness requiring medical attention and/or antibiotics within 1 month of study participation; Diagnosis of cancer, including leukemia; Blood or blood clotting disorder; Except for individuals with MS, a diagnosis of autoimmune disease is exclusionary; Positive urine β-hCG test day of procedure or a serum -hCG test within 48 hours prior to the administration of [18F]DPA-714; Contraindication to MRI; Pregnancy; Lactation.