COBALT-55 POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY IN ISCHEMIC STROKE

After acute cerebral stroke, the (peri-) infarct tissue is characteriz ed by calcium (Ca)-mediated neuronal damage and inflammatory processes . Monitoring Ca-mediated damage using the isotope cobalt-55 (Go) as a Ga-tracer may enable PET-imaging of this tissue. Since the fate of (pe ri-) infarct tissue determines clinical outcome, Go-PET may have progn ostic value in stroke. Six stroke patients were examined with Go-PET, MRI and a middle cerebral artery (mca) stroke scale (Orgogozo). In eve ry patient? specific Go-accumulation in the appropriate brain region w as seen, irrespective of the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. Thi s pilot study suggests Go-PET as a diagnostic tool in stroke, which ma y provide additional information on the clinical outcome. Validation o f method in larger patient series is necessary. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scie nce B.V.