ECTRIMS 2021 | Molecular imaging of myelin: the promise of PET

Russell Ouellette, PhD, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden, discusses PET-based molecular imaging of myelin. PET imaging has gained attention in MS as a potential tool to investigate disease pathophysiology, monitor progression, quantify remyelination to aid the development and clinical testing of remyelinating drugs, or use as a surrogate end-point in clinical trials. While the role of MRI imaging in MS is better defined, it has limitations relating to myelin measurement. Its poor histopathological specificity prevents differentiation between the different features characterizing MS lesions and measurements from different techniques cannot be compared. Dr Ouellette discusses investigations in the molecular imaging space, including the emerging potential of PET with amyloid tracers as a tool to visualize white matter damage in MS. Dr Ouellette also emphasizes the potential to combine PET data with MRI findings. This interview took place at the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) congress 2021.