Challenges

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Further integration of imaging modalities into themultimodal imaging platform, e.g. fMRI of interictalspikes using EEG in MRI

Clinical validation of new imaging techniques

Understanding process of epileptogenesis, i.e.process that renders normal brain into an epilepticbrain, and development of anti-epileptogenic drugs

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Multimodal image registration

Collaboration & Users

http://www.molgen.ua.ac.be/http://www.vib.be/VIB/EN/

We have established a close collaboration with themolecular genetics department of Prof. Dr. P. DeJonghe at the University of Antwerp to study thegenetics of familial epilepsy.( )( )

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Imaging-based non-invasive presurgical evaluation of patients with refractorypartial epilepsy

Development of multimodality imaging platform including structural MRI,subtraction ictal SPECT, fMRI, diffusion tractography, EEG

Imaging-based study of neurobiology of epilepsy, phenotype description offamilial epilepsy syndromes, studies of small animals with epilepsy

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m t cedical echnology entrem t cedical echnology entre

mtcLeuven

Key personnelKey personnel

Staff

KeywordsEpilepsy, humans, small

animals, MRI, ictal SPECT,PET, DTI, fMRI, multimodality

imaging platform,epileptogenesis

Prof. Dr. Wim Van PaesschenNeurology

University Hospitals LeuvenHerestraat 49

B-3000 Leuven, Belgiumtel: +32 (0)16 344280

wim.vanpaesschen@uzleuven.bewww.neurology-kuleuven.be

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Neurology: Prof. Dr. Wim Van PaesschenNeuroradiology: Prof. Dr. Stefan Sunaert, Prof. Dr.Ph. Demaerel Dept. Elektrotechniek (ESAT) SCD ,KULeuven: Prof. Dr. Ir. Sabine Van HuffelLaboratory for Medical Image Computing (ESAT-Radiology): Prof.Dr.Ir. Paul Suetens, Prof. Dr. D.VandermeulenNuclear Medicine: Prof. Dr. Koen Van LaereNeurosurgery: Prof. Dr. Jan Goffin, Prof. Dr.Johannes Van Loon, Prof. Dr. Bart NuttinPsychiatry: Dr. M. VandenbulckePsychology: Kathleen Porke, Prof. DebVansteenwegen

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9 professors12 clinical staff members3 PhD students

Conta

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info@lmtc.kuleuven.bewww.kuleuven.be/lmtcinfo@lmtc.kuleuven.bewww.kuleuven.be/lmtc

Multidisciplinary epilepsy research group

Imaging studies of epileptogenesis in smallanimals with epilepsy.

Overview of small animal PET applications in epilepsyresearch. Coronal views of PET images through thehippocampus of the rat brain with A) 18F-FDG (glucosemetabolism), B) 18F-FMZ (GABAA receptor system), C) 18F-MK-9470 (CB1 receptor system), D) 18F-FCWAY (5-HT1Aserotonin receptor system) after inhibition of defluorinationwith micanazole treatment (Reprinted by permission of theSociety of Nuclear Medicine from: Dnyanesh N. Tipre, SamiS. Zoghbi, Jeih-San Liow, Michael V. Green, Jurgen Seidel,Masanori Ichise, Robert B. Innis, and Victor W. Pike. PETImaging of Brain 5-HT1A Receptors in Rat In Vivo with 18F-FCWAY and Improvement by Successful Inhibition ofRadioligand Defluorination with Miconazole. J Nucl Med.2006 47(2): 345-353. Figure 3., E) 11C-raclopride(dopamine D2 receptor system), section through thestriatum, F) Outline of some of the neurobiologicalalterations associated with the process of epileptogenesisand the development of epilepsy; and description of thepossible imaging milestones during this time window.

Imaging-phenotype of familial epilepsy.

Selected families with familial epilepsy syndromes are invited for imaging studies to characterize the phenotype. The genotypingis performed in the lab of Prof. Dr. P. De Jonghe. We performed a clinical evaluation and genetic analysis in a five-generationfamily with co-occurrence of paroxysmal exercise-induced dyskinesia (PED) and epilepsy. We identified a new mutation inSLC2A1, which encodes the facilitative glucose transporter type 1 or GLUT1, which is the main transporter for D-glucose acrossthe blood-brain barrier. SPM T-map and plots of the correlation analysis between glucose metabolism and PED frequency scoreat time of PET scanning. Positive correlation is indicated in yellow/red, negative correlation in blue/green. Results are projectedon an average spatially normalized in-house T1 image of healthy controls. PED frequency score: 5: daily, 4: weekly, 3: monthly,2: yearly, 1: remission> 1 year, 0: no history of epilepsy. Notice that 22 subjects had no history of PED (controls: n=20,patients: n=2). R: right, L: left. When a patient suffered from more frequent PEDs, the frontal lobe hypometabolism was morepronounced, as was the relative hypermetabolism in the putamen. These findings implicate disordered glucose metabolism inthe corticostriate pathways in the pathophysiology of PED (see figure 3).

Example Projects

m t cedical echnology entrem t cedical echnology entre

mtcLeuven

info@lmtc.kuleuven.bewww.kuleuven.be/lmtc

info@lmtc.kuleuven.bewww.kuleuven.be/lmtc

Imaging-phenotype of familial epilepsy

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Unique infrastructureUnique infrastructureThe multidisciplinary epilepsy research group is

recognised by the RIZIV/INAMI as a reference centrefor patients with difficult to treat epilepsy. We have two

video-EEG rooms for recording of epileptic seizuresand ictal SPECT injections. Our medical imagingcentre is fully equipped for both human (Medical

Imaging Centre (MIC)) and small animal imaging(Molecular Small Animal Imaging Centre (MOSAIC))