β-amyloid PET signal reduction in prior ARIA-E regions after anti-amyloid therapy for Alzheimer’s disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The relationship between regional brain edema caused by anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies (ARIA-E) and the degree of regional β-amyloid (Aβ) positron emission tomography (PET) signal reduction is unknown.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In patients with moderate or severe ARIA-E, we quantified changes in Aβ PET signal before and after ARIA-E resolution, comparing regions affected by ARIA-E with unaffected regions.RESULTS: In four of five patients treated with lecanemab or donanemab and who had moderate or severe ARIA-E, Aβ PET signal decreased significantly more in regions that had been involved with ARIA-E.CONCLUSIONS: Greater regional Aβ PET signal reduction in areas affected by ARIA-E may reflect enhanced local Aβ clearance, reduced tracer binding site availability, impaired glymphatic flow from immune complex deposition, or other mechanisms. The finding of greater regional Aβ PET signal reduction in ARIA-E regions refines the characterization of ARIA-E and raises the possibility that its occurrence may have beneficial as well as adverse implications.ABBREVIATIONS: ARIA＝ amyloid related imaging abnormalities; Aβ＝ β-amyloid; SUVR = standard uptake value ratio