Distribution of spinal damage in patients with axial spondyloarthritis as assessed by MRI: a prospective and blinded study
Abstract Background Axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) leads to structural bone lesions in every part of the vertebral column. These lesions are only partially visualized on conventional radiographs, omitting posterior parts of the vertebral column and the thoracic spine, that may nevertheless contribute...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Arthritis Research & Therapy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-024-03465-9 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832594491113996288 |
|---|---|
| author | Andreas Haidmayer Gabriel Adelsmayr Christopher Spreizer Eva Valentina Klocker Franz Quehenberger Michael Fuchsjaeger Jens Thiel Josef Hermann |
| author_facet | Andreas Haidmayer Gabriel Adelsmayr Christopher Spreizer Eva Valentina Klocker Franz Quehenberger Michael Fuchsjaeger Jens Thiel Josef Hermann |
| author_sort | Andreas Haidmayer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) leads to structural bone lesions in every part of the vertebral column. These lesions are only partially visualized on conventional radiographs, omitting posterior parts of the vertebral column and the thoracic spine, that may nevertheless contribute to impaired spinal mobility and function in patients with axial SpA. Methods In this prospective and blinded investigation, we assessed the distribution of structural spinal lesions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the whole spine in 55 patients with axial SpA classified according to the Assessment in Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria. After assessment of spinal mobility and function two blinded radiologists independently evaluated MRIs of 23 vertebral units in every patient. Non-parametric statistical methods, Spearman‘s correlation and linear regression models were used to analyze structural lesion distribution and the relationship with clinical spinal mobility and function parameters. Results In 55 patients with axial SpA (13 females, average disease duration 14.9 years) 657 ventral and 139 dorsal vertebral body structural bone lesions and, notably, 534 facet joint lesions could be visualized. The median number of lesions per patient was higher in the thoracic (8.5, range 1.0–41.0) than in the lumbar (7.5, range 0.0-27.5) and the cervical spine (3.5, range 0.0-24.5). A negative correlation was noted between the number of osteoproliferative structural bone lesions and impairment of spinal mobility and function in univariate, but not in multivariate analyses. Conclusion MRI of the whole spine revealed a high prevalence of lesions in dorsal parts of the vertebral column and in the thoracic spine in patients with axial SpA that may not be adequately visualized on conventional radiographs. These findings could further contribute to a better understanding of reduced mobility of the spine typically associated with axial SpA and assist diagnostics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-86667adaca4d455f891c70ef3d3ce890 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1478-6362 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Arthritis Research & Therapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-86667adaca4d455f891c70ef3d3ce8902025-01-19T12:33:58ZengBMCArthritis Research & Therapy1478-63622025-01-012711910.1186/s13075-024-03465-9Distribution of spinal damage in patients with axial spondyloarthritis as assessed by MRI: a prospective and blinded studyAndreas Haidmayer0Gabriel Adelsmayr1Christopher Spreizer2Eva Valentina Klocker3Franz Quehenberger4Michael Fuchsjaeger5Jens Thiel6Josef Hermann7Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of GrazDivision of General Radiology, Department of Radiology, Medical University of GrazSoutheastern CT-InstituteDivision of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of GrazInstitute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Documentation, Medical University of GrazDivision of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of GrazDivision of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of GrazDivision of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of GrazAbstract Background Axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) leads to structural bone lesions in every part of the vertebral column. These lesions are only partially visualized on conventional radiographs, omitting posterior parts of the vertebral column and the thoracic spine, that may nevertheless contribute to impaired spinal mobility and function in patients with axial SpA. Methods In this prospective and blinded investigation, we assessed the distribution of structural spinal lesions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the whole spine in 55 patients with axial SpA classified according to the Assessment in Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria. After assessment of spinal mobility and function two blinded radiologists independently evaluated MRIs of 23 vertebral units in every patient. Non-parametric statistical methods, Spearman‘s correlation and linear regression models were used to analyze structural lesion distribution and the relationship with clinical spinal mobility and function parameters. Results In 55 patients with axial SpA (13 females, average disease duration 14.9 years) 657 ventral and 139 dorsal vertebral body structural bone lesions and, notably, 534 facet joint lesions could be visualized. The median number of lesions per patient was higher in the thoracic (8.5, range 1.0–41.0) than in the lumbar (7.5, range 0.0-27.5) and the cervical spine (3.5, range 0.0-24.5). A negative correlation was noted between the number of osteoproliferative structural bone lesions and impairment of spinal mobility and function in univariate, but not in multivariate analyses. Conclusion MRI of the whole spine revealed a high prevalence of lesions in dorsal parts of the vertebral column and in the thoracic spine in patients with axial SpA that may not be adequately visualized on conventional radiographs. These findings could further contribute to a better understanding of reduced mobility of the spine typically associated with axial SpA and assist diagnostics.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-024-03465-9Axial spondyloarthritisMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)Vertebral columnSyndesmophytesAnkylosisFacet joints |
| spellingShingle | Andreas Haidmayer Gabriel Adelsmayr Christopher Spreizer Eva Valentina Klocker Franz Quehenberger Michael Fuchsjaeger Jens Thiel Josef Hermann Distribution of spinal damage in patients with axial spondyloarthritis as assessed by MRI: a prospective and blinded study Arthritis Research & Therapy Axial spondyloarthritis Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Vertebral column Syndesmophytes Ankylosis Facet joints |
| title | Distribution of spinal damage in patients with axial spondyloarthritis as assessed by MRI: a prospective and blinded study |
| title_full | Distribution of spinal damage in patients with axial spondyloarthritis as assessed by MRI: a prospective and blinded study |
| title_fullStr | Distribution of spinal damage in patients with axial spondyloarthritis as assessed by MRI: a prospective and blinded study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distribution of spinal damage in patients with axial spondyloarthritis as assessed by MRI: a prospective and blinded study |
| title_short | Distribution of spinal damage in patients with axial spondyloarthritis as assessed by MRI: a prospective and blinded study |
| title_sort | distribution of spinal damage in patients with axial spondyloarthritis as assessed by mri a prospective and blinded study |
| topic | Axial spondyloarthritis Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Vertebral column Syndesmophytes Ankylosis Facet joints |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-024-03465-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT andreashaidmayer distributionofspinaldamageinpatientswithaxialspondyloarthritisasassessedbymriaprospectiveandblindedstudy AT gabrieladelsmayr distributionofspinaldamageinpatientswithaxialspondyloarthritisasassessedbymriaprospectiveandblindedstudy AT christopherspreizer distributionofspinaldamageinpatientswithaxialspondyloarthritisasassessedbymriaprospectiveandblindedstudy AT evavalentinaklocker distributionofspinaldamageinpatientswithaxialspondyloarthritisasassessedbymriaprospectiveandblindedstudy AT franzquehenberger distributionofspinaldamageinpatientswithaxialspondyloarthritisasassessedbymriaprospectiveandblindedstudy AT michaelfuchsjaeger distributionofspinaldamageinpatientswithaxialspondyloarthritisasassessedbymriaprospectiveandblindedstudy AT jensthiel distributionofspinaldamageinpatientswithaxialspondyloarthritisasassessedbymriaprospectiveandblindedstudy AT josefhermann distributionofspinaldamageinpatientswithaxialspondyloarthritisasassessedbymriaprospectiveandblindedstudy |