NCT05205291Recruiting
Molecular Imaging of Inflammation in Parkinson's Disease Using LPS and TSPO-PET/MR
Molecular Imaging of LPS-induced Microglial Activation in Parkinson's Disease (PD). A TSPO PET-MR Imaging Study
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 7 Oct 2025 · Not updated for over 12 months - ask the site whether it is still open
Brief summary (registry, in English)
It is not known what causes Parkinson's disease and what makes it worsen over time. Research conducted in the past few years has highlighted the possible role of inflammation on this process but its actual mechanisms are still obscure. In this study, the investigators aim to gain understanding on how inflammation is increased in Parkinson's disease and what are its mechanisms, by performing two Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans using the tracer \[11C\]PBR28, that takes pictures of the brain highlighting the areas of inflammation, before and after the administration of a compound called Lipopolysaccharide or LPS, that is known to cause a mild degree of inflammation. The investigators will couple this study with two venous blood draws to measure the levels of circulating molecules of inflammation.
- Status (registry)
- Recruiting
- Study type
- Observational
- Enrollment
- 30 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 9 Nov 2021
- Start date
- 28 Feb 2022
- Primary completion date
- 31 Aug 2026
- Lead sponsor
- University of Exeter
- Diseases
- Parkinson disease
- NCT number
- NCT05205291
What you commit to
- Study type: Observational
- Planned participants: 30
- From 28 Feb 2022 to the primary completion date, 31 Aug 2026
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Presence of comorbidities or concomitant medications incompatible with the assessment or imaging procedures as deemed by the study physician
- Recent (less than 30 days) use of antipsychotics and corticosteroids
- Use of any long-acting benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam) or use of slow or medium acting benzodiazepines with doses ≥ 30 mg within 30 days prior to the first imaging scan.
- History of autonomic dysfunction, previous vasovagal syncope or a positive tilt-test, and with bradycardia or use of medications causing bradycardia (e.g. beta-blockers)
- Contraindication to MRI, such as presence of metal devises or implants, metal deposited in the body, or metal grains in the eyes
- Concurrent participation to any clinical trial testing investigational drugs
- Presence of comorbidities or concomitant medications incompatible with the assessment or imaging procedures as deemed by the study physician
- Recent (less than 30 days) use of antipsychotics and corticosteroids.
- Use of any long-acting benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam) or use of slow or medium acting benzodiazepines with doses ≥ 30 mg within 30 days prior to the first imaging scan.
- History of autonomic dysfunction, previous vasovagal syncope or a positive tilt-test, and with bradycardia or use of medications causing bradycardia (e.g. beta-blockers)
- Contraindication to MRI, such as presence of metal devises or implants, metal deposited in the body, or metal grains in the eyes
- Concurrent participation to any clinical trial testing investigational drugs
- Presence of comorbidities or concomitant medications incompatible with the assessment or imaging procedures as deemed by the study physician
- Recent (less than 30 days) use of antipsychotics and corticosteroids
- Use of any long-acting benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam) or use of slow or medium acting benzodiazepines with doses ≥ 30 mg within 30 days prior to the first imaging scan.
- Use of any of the following drugs that might interfere with dopamine transporter SPECT imaging: Ephedrine, ketamine, isoflurane, cocaine, methylphenidate, amphetamine of any amphetamine derivatives, mazindol, modafinil, benztropine, fentanyl, derivatives, buproprion, phentermine neuroleptics, metoclopramide, alpha methyldopa, , reserpine, .
- History of autonomic dysfunction, previous vasovagal syncope or a positive tilt-test, and with bradycardia or use of medications causing bradycardia (e.g. beta-blockers)
- Contraindication to MRI, such as presence of metal devises or implants, metal deposited in the body, or metal grains in the eyes
- Concurrent participation to any clinical trial testing investigational drugs
Other illness
- Current or a recent (\<12 months) history of drug or alcohol abuse/dependence
- Presence of neurological disorders and known intracranial co-morbidities such as stroke, haemorrhage, space-occupying lesions, signs of inflammation of the CNS
- Presence of serology compatible with HIV, syphilis, SARS-CoV2, or viral hepatitis
- History of cancer within the last 5 years, except for appropriately treated, non-melanoma skin carcinoma, non-metastatic prostate cancer, treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or Stage I uterine cancer.
- Claustrophobia or history of back pain that makes prolonged laying on the PET or MRI scanner intolerable
- Contraindication to arterial cannulation, such as history of bleedings, haemorrhage, etc.
- Recent (less than 30 days) infection or vaccination (e.g. flu, SARS-CoV2 etc.)
- Current or recent history of drug or alcohol abuse/dependence
- Presence of other neurological disorders and known intracranial co-morbidities such as stroke, haemorrhage, space-occupying lesions, signs of inflammation of the CNS
- Presence of serology compatible with HIV, syphilis, SARS-CoV2, or viral hepatitis
- History of cancer within the last 5 years, except for appropriately treated, non-melanoma skin carcinoma, non-metastatic prostate cancer, treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or Stage I uterine cancer.
- Claustrophobia or history of back pain that makes prolonged laying on the PET or MRI scanner intolerable
- Contraindication to arterial cannulation, such as history of bleedings, haemorrhage, etc.
- Recent (less than 30 days) infection or vaccination (e.g. flu, SARS-CoV2 etc.)
- Current or a recent (\<12 months) history of drug or alcohol abuse/dependence
- Presence of neurological disorders and known intracranial co-morbidities such as stroke, haemorrhage, space-occupying lesions, signs of inflammation of the CNS
- Presence of serology compatible with HIV, syphilis, or viral hepatitis
- History of cancer within the last 5 years, except for appropriately treated, non-melanoma skin carcinoma, non-metastatic prostate cancer, treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or Stage I uterine cancer.
- Claustrophobia or history of back pain that makes prolonged laying on the PET or MRI scanner intolerable
- Contraindication to arterial cannulation, such as history of bleedings, haemorrhage, etc.
- Recent (less than 30 days) infection or vaccination (e.g. flu, SARS-CoV2 etc.)
Lab values
- Presence of clinically significant (as deemed by the study physician) alterations on safety laboratory blood and urine testing
- Presence of clinically significant (as deemed by the study physician) alterations on safety laboratory blood or urine testing
- Presence of clinically significant (as deemed by the study physician) alterations on safety laboratory blood and urine testing
Other
- Unwilling and/or unable to cooperate with study procedures
- BDI ≥ 20, moderate depression
- Recent (less than 2 days) use of NSAIDs.
- Presence of rs6971 genotype of low-affinity binders that hinders the measure of microglial activation with \[11C\]PBR28 PET
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Negative Allen's test (i.e. absence of collateral flow on hands on the test)
- Unwilling and/or unable to cooperate with study procedures
- BDI ≥ 20, moderate depression
- Recent (less than 2 days) use of NSAIDs.
- Presence of rs6971 genotype of low-affinity binders that hinders the measure of microglial activation with \[11C\]PBR28 PET
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Negative Allen's test (i.e. absence of collateral flow on hands on the test)
- Unwilling and/or unable to cooperate with study procedures
- BDI-II ≥ 20, moderate depression
- Recent (less than 2 days) use of NSAIDs.
- Presence of rs6971 genotype of low-affinity binders that hinders the measure of microglial activation with \[11C\]PBR28 PET
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Negative Allen's test (i.e. absence of collateral flow on hands on the test)
- Evidence of presynaptic dopaminergic denervation on \[123I\]FP-CIT SPECT
Who the study is looking for
- 50-85 years of age, male or female
- Able to give informed consent
- Adequate visual and auditory acuity to complete the neuropsychological testing
- No presence or history of significant neurological or psychiatric disorders
- BDI ≥ 20, moderate depression
- No presence or history of inflammatory or autoimmune disorders
- Negative family history for neurodegenerative diseases
- Cognitively healthy (i.e., education-adjusted MoCA total score ≥ 26 points at screening)
- Female subjects must either be documented by medical records or physician's note to be either surgically sterile (by means of hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy) or post-menopausal for at least 1 year (no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause) or if they are of childbearing potential, they must commit to use of a highly effective contraceptive measure for the duration of the study and a minimum of six months following the PET scan (including combined \[estrogen and progestogen containing\] hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, intravaginal, or transdermal\], progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, injectable, or implantable\], intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system, bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomised partner or sexual abstinence).
- Male subjects and their partners of childbearing potential must commit to the use of a highly effective method of contraception during the study and for a minimum of three months following each PET scan (including, for female partners of childbearing potential, combined \[estrogen and progestogen containing\] hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, intravaginal, or transdermal\], progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, injectable, or implantable\], intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system, bilateral tubal occlusion, male subjects with vasectomy or sexual abstinence).
- Male subjects must commit to not donate sperm during the study and for a minimum of three months after the last PET scan.
- Individuals must commit to refrain from drinking alcohol for 48 hours before each visit, refrain from drinking any caffeinated substance for 12 hours before the PET-MR visits, and to refrain from smoking or using any nicotine-containing products on the day of the PET-MR scans.
- Individuals must commit to not donating blood up to three months after the last PET scan.
- Individuals must commit to come to the screening and Day 1 visits in a fasting state (i.e., minimum of 8 hours since last meal/food intake).
- Individuals must commit to not to take any over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or drink alcohol for 48h before screening visit.
- 50-85 years of age, male or female
- Able to give informed consent
- Adequate visual and auditory acuity to complete the neuropsychological testing
- No presence or history of other significant neurological or psychiatric disorders
- Diagnosis of PD according to the Movement Disorder Society Clinical Diagnostic Criteria (Postuma et al., Mov Disord 2015)
- Drug-naïve participants with PD must have a diagnosis of PD but must be therapy-free at the time of enrolment
- For participants with PD-MCI: diagnosis of MCI according the diagnostic criteria for MCI-PD (Level I; Litvan et al., Mov Disord 2012) and/or MoCA \< 23
- For participants with PD taking dopaminergic therapy: must be in stable therapy (i.e. not have changed therapy in the last 60 days)
- Female subjects must either be documented by medical records or physician's note to be either surgically sterile (by means of hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy) or post-menopausal for at least 1 year (no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause) or if they are of childbearing potential, they must commit to use of a highly effective contraceptive measure for the duration of the study and a minimum of six months following the PET scan (including combined \[estrogen and progestogen containing\] hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, intravaginal, or transdermal\], progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, injectable, or implantable\], intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system, bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomised partner or sexual abstinence).
- Male subjects and their partners of childbearing potential must commit to the use of a highly effective method of contraception during the study and for a minimum of three months following each PET scan (including, for female partners of childbearing potential, combined \[estrogen and progestogen containing\] hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, intravaginal, or transdermal\], progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, injectable, or implantable\], intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system, bilateral tubal occlusion, male subjects with vasectomy or sexual abstinence).
- Male subjects must commit to not donate sperm during the study and for a minimum of three months after the last PET scan.
- Individuals must commit to refrain from drinking alcohol for 48 hours before each visit, refrain from drinking any caffeinated substance for 12 hours before the PET-MR visits, and to refrain from smoking or using any nicotine-containing products on the day of the PET-MR scans.
- Individuals must commit to not donating blood up to three months after the last PET scan.
- Individuals must commit to come to the screening and Day 1 visits in a fasting state (i.e., minimum of 8 hours since last meal/food intake).
- Individuals must commit to not to take any over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or drink alcohol for 48h before screening visit.
- For participants with iRBD:
- 40-85 years of age, male or female
- Able to give informed consent
- Adequate visual and auditory acuity to complete the neuropsychological testing
- No presence or history of significant neurological or psychiatric disorders
- BDI-II ≥ 20, moderate depression
- No presence or history of inflammatory or autoimmune disorders
- Negative family history for neurodegenerative diseases
- Cognitively healthy (i.e., education-adjusted MoCA total score ≥ 26 points at screening)
- Female subjects must either be documented by medical records or physician's note to be either surgically sterile (by means of hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy) or post-menopausal for at least 1 year (no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause) or if they are of childbearing potential, they must commit to use of a highly effective contraceptive measure for the duration of the study and a minimum of six months following the PET scan (including combined \[estrogen and progestogen containing\] hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, intravaginal, or transdermal\], progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, injectable, or implantable\], intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system, bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomised partner or sexual abstinence).
- Male subjects and their partners of childbearing potential must commit to the use of a highly effective method of contraception during the study and for a minimum of three months following each PET scan (including, for female partners of childbearing potential, combined \[estrogen and progestogen containing\] hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, intravaginal, or transdermal\], progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation \[oral, injectable, or implantable\], intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system, bilateral tubal occlusion, male subjects with vasectomy or sexual abstinence).
- Male subjects must commit to not donate sperm during the study and for a minimum of three months after the last PET scan.
- Individuals must commit to refrain from drinking alcohol for 48 hours before each visit, refrain from drinking any caffeinated substance for 12 hours before the PET-MR visits, and to refrain from smoking or using any nicotine-containing products on the day of the PET-MR scans.
- Individuals must commit to not donating blood up to three months after the last PET scan.
- Individuals must commit to come to the screening and Day 1 visits in a fasting state (i.e., minimum of 8 hours since last meal/food intake).
- Individuals must commit to not to take any over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or drink alcohol for 48h before screening visit.
Age in the registry: 50 years to 85 years · Sex: All · Accepts healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Of Exeter Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Exeter | United Kingdom | Recruiting |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.