Diagnostic and therapeutic insights from a cohort of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) patients

Abstract Background Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a sporadic form of autoinflammatory bone disorders (ABDs) presenting with sterile chronic and/or recurrent and multiple sites of bone involvement. We aimed to describe our 10-year cohort of CRMO patients and analyze the charact...

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Main Authors: Kosar Asna Ashari, Mahdieh Mousavi, Fatemeh Tahghighi Sharabian, Raheleh Assari, Seyyed Reza Raeeskarami, Vahid Ziaee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Rheumatology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-025-00537-4
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author Kosar Asna Ashari
Mahdieh Mousavi
Fatemeh Tahghighi Sharabian
Raheleh Assari
Seyyed Reza Raeeskarami
Vahid Ziaee
author_facet Kosar Asna Ashari
Mahdieh Mousavi
Fatemeh Tahghighi Sharabian
Raheleh Assari
Seyyed Reza Raeeskarami
Vahid Ziaee
author_sort Kosar Asna Ashari
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a sporadic form of autoinflammatory bone disorders (ABDs) presenting with sterile chronic and/or recurrent and multiple sites of bone involvement. We aimed to describe our 10-year cohort of CRMO patients and analyze the characteristics and treatment approaches. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data on patients with bone diseases at Children’s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran in the previous 10 years. The criteria for inclusion of patients as CNO/CRMO were mono-, oligo- or multifocal inflammatory bone lesions (osteomyelitis, osteitis, osteosclerosis) by imaging techniques; duration of complaints for > 6 weeks; and onset before 18 years of age. Results Thirty-nine patients were enrolled. Diagnosis of five patients were found compatible with monogenic ABDs. There were four sites of bone involvement per patient. The most common sites were vertebrae, pelvis, and tibia. Eight patients (23%) had dermatologic manifestations, including three psoriasis cases and one palmar pustulosis. All patients received NSAIDs, and 85% received it as first-line. Treatment was escalated to methotrexate or prednisolone when response was suboptimal. Out of 17 patients primarily treated only with NSAIDs, 47% remitted. In general, 84% of our patients are in remission: 36% without medication and 48% with medication. Conclusion Our CRMO patients showed an acceptable remission response to the current treatment regimen. Results of bone scintigraphy in suspected CRMO patients should be interpreted cautiously as an adjunct to clinical investigations. Special attention should be paid to extraosseous manifestations in suspected CRMO patients to avoid overlooking monogenic ABDs. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
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spelling doaj-art-fe322a5cfc3f4f53980108a6c14bbadd2025-08-20T03:42:02ZengBMCBMC Rheumatology2520-10262025-07-01911910.1186/s41927-025-00537-4Diagnostic and therapeutic insights from a cohort of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) patientsKosar Asna Ashari0Mahdieh Mousavi1Fatemeh Tahghighi Sharabian2Raheleh Assari3Seyyed Reza Raeeskarami4Vahid Ziaee5Children’s Medical Center, Pediatrics Center of ExcellenceChildren’s Medical Center, Pediatrics Center of ExcellenceChildren’s Medical Center, Pediatrics Center of ExcellenceChildren’s Medical Center, Pediatrics Center of ExcellenceChildren’s Medical Center, Pediatrics Center of ExcellenceChildren’s Medical Center, Pediatrics Center of ExcellenceAbstract Background Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a sporadic form of autoinflammatory bone disorders (ABDs) presenting with sterile chronic and/or recurrent and multiple sites of bone involvement. We aimed to describe our 10-year cohort of CRMO patients and analyze the characteristics and treatment approaches. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data on patients with bone diseases at Children’s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran in the previous 10 years. The criteria for inclusion of patients as CNO/CRMO were mono-, oligo- or multifocal inflammatory bone lesions (osteomyelitis, osteitis, osteosclerosis) by imaging techniques; duration of complaints for > 6 weeks; and onset before 18 years of age. Results Thirty-nine patients were enrolled. Diagnosis of five patients were found compatible with monogenic ABDs. There were four sites of bone involvement per patient. The most common sites were vertebrae, pelvis, and tibia. Eight patients (23%) had dermatologic manifestations, including three psoriasis cases and one palmar pustulosis. All patients received NSAIDs, and 85% received it as first-line. Treatment was escalated to methotrexate or prednisolone when response was suboptimal. Out of 17 patients primarily treated only with NSAIDs, 47% remitted. In general, 84% of our patients are in remission: 36% without medication and 48% with medication. Conclusion Our CRMO patients showed an acceptable remission response to the current treatment regimen. Results of bone scintigraphy in suspected CRMO patients should be interpreted cautiously as an adjunct to clinical investigations. Special attention should be paid to extraosseous manifestations in suspected CRMO patients to avoid overlooking monogenic ABDs. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-025-00537-4Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitisCRMOAutoinflammatoryAutoinflammatory bone disorders
spellingShingle Kosar Asna Ashari
Mahdieh Mousavi
Fatemeh Tahghighi Sharabian
Raheleh Assari
Seyyed Reza Raeeskarami
Vahid Ziaee
Diagnostic and therapeutic insights from a cohort of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) patients
BMC Rheumatology
Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis
CRMO
Autoinflammatory
Autoinflammatory bone disorders
title Diagnostic and therapeutic insights from a cohort of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) patients
title_full Diagnostic and therapeutic insights from a cohort of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) patients
title_fullStr Diagnostic and therapeutic insights from a cohort of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) patients
title_full_unstemmed Diagnostic and therapeutic insights from a cohort of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) patients
title_short Diagnostic and therapeutic insights from a cohort of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) patients
title_sort diagnostic and therapeutic insights from a cohort of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis crmo patients
topic Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis
CRMO
Autoinflammatory
Autoinflammatory bone disorders
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-025-00537-4
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