Development of a pipeline for processing, analyzing and interpreting brain PET/CT images with [18F]FDG using the CortexID Software in patients with neuropsychiatric manifestations due to long-term COVID.

• Grant number: 23/00994-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Lauro Wichert Ana
• Grantee: Juliana Sayuri Sakamoto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a problem for human health and public safety, resulting in respiratory and neurological problems and affecting cognitive function. Although the neurocognitive manifestations of COVID-19 are studied and researched, there is still a lack of pathophysiological knowledge. In order to improve the quality of life of COVID-19 survivors, it would be of great importance to identify the extent and effects of the effects of SARS-CoV-2 neuroinfection or neuroinflammation on brain function. This project aims to describe the pattern of brain glycolytic metabolism abnormalities with [18F]FDG PET/CT in cognitively impaired patients with mild COVID-19. To this end, brain PET/CT images of 22 cognitively impaired patients with mild COVID-19 will be used and compared with the database of 20 healthy volunteers. The exams have already been purchased at Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto (HC-RP) in a project funded by FAPESP - Proc. 12671-3. We will use the CortexID Suite software (General Electric, USA), evaluating segmented areas in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum and basal ganglia, and normalized by the global distribution of [18F]FDG in the central nervous system. With this, it is expected to assist in clinical decision-making, accelerating the diagnosis of neurocognitive symptoms and, consequently, anticipating the evaluation and rehabilitation of patients affected by SARS-CoV-2.