In Vivo Visualization and Quantification of Neutrophil Elastase in Lungs of COVID-19 Patients: A First-in-Humans PET Study with 11C-NES.
J Nucl Med
; 64(1): 145-148, 2023 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35680418
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause life-threatening lung inflammation that is thought to be mediated by neutrophils. The aim of the present work was to evaluate a novel PET tracer for neutrophil elastase (NE). Methods:
In this first-in-humans study, 4 patients with hypoxia due to COVID-19 and 2 healthy controls were investigated with PET using 11C-NES and 15O-water for visualization and quantification of NE and perfusion in the lungs, respectively.Results:
11C-NES accumulated selectively in lung areas with COVID-19 opacities on CT scans, suggesting high levels of NE there. In the same areas, perfusion was severely reduced in comparison to healthy lung tissue as measured with 15O-water.Conclusion:
The data suggest that NE is associated with severe lung inflammation in COVID-19 patients and that inhibition of NE could potentially reduce the acute inflammatory process and improve the condition.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
/
Lung Diseases
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
J Nucl Med
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article