Inflammation, bone loss and 2-year bone formation at the same vertebra in axial spondyloarthritis: a multilevel MRI and low-dose CT analysis

M.L. Marques*, N.P. da Silva, D. van der Heijde, R. Stal, X. Baraliakos, J. Braun, M. Reijnierse, C. Bastiaenen, S. Ramiro, F.A. van Gaalen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate whether in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) inflammation is associated with lower trabecular bone density (TBD), and subsequently, if a lower TBD increases the likelihood of 2-year bone formation at the same vertebra.MethodsWhole spine (C3-L5) data from patients included in the multicentre 2-year Sensitive Imaging in Ankylosing Spondylitis cohort was used. Two readers measured baseline TBD by Hounsfield units (HU) on low-dose CT (ldCT). Baseline MRI bone marrow oedema (BME) status scores and ldCT syndesmophyte formation and/or growth change-from-baseline scores were assessed by three and two readers, respectively. Average of readers' continuous measurements or readers' agreement in binary scores generated within the same vertebra (1-present in >= 1 quadrant/0-absent in all quadrants) were used. Multilevel generalised estimating equations models were used, the unit of analysis being the vertebra.ResultsIn 50 patients with r-axSpA, TBD HU decreased from cranial to caudal vertebrae. Baseline MRI-BME was present in 300/985 (30%) and syndesmophytes in 588/910 (65%) vertebrae, both most prevalent at thoracolumbar region. Syndesmophyte formation or growth was observed in 18% of at-risk vertebrae (124/691). A significant confounder-adjusted association was found between inflammation and lower TBD (regression coefficient=-51; 95% CI-63 to -39). TBD was not associated with 2-year syndesmophyte formation or growth (adjusted OR 1.00; 95% CI 0.99 to 1.00).ConclusionIn r-axSpA, while vertebral inflammation was associated with lower vertebral TBD, lower vertebral TBD itself did not increase the risk for new bone formation at the same vertebra. In preventing syndesmophyte progression, targeting local inflammation seems more important than targeting vertebral trabecular bone loss.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere002836
Number of pages10
JournalRMD Open
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2023

Keywords

  • Spondylitis
  • Ankylosing
  • Outcome Assessment
  • Health Care
  • Inflammation
  • MINERAL DENSITY
  • STRUCTURAL DAMAGE
  • SPINE
  • DISEASE

Cite this