Inflammatory lesions of the spine on magnetic resonance imaging predict the development of new syndesmophytes in ankylosing spondylitis: evidence of a relationship between inflammation and new bone formation

TY - JOUR

T1 - Inflammatory lesions of the spine on magnetic resonance imaging predict the development of new syndesmophytes in ankylosing spondylitis: evidence of a relationship between inflammation and new bone formation

AU - Maksymowych, Walter P

AU - Chiowchanwisawakit, Praveena

AU - Clare, Tracey

AU - Pedersen, Susanne J

AU - Østergaard, Mikkel

AU - Lambert, Robert G W

N1 - Keywords: Adult; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antirheumatic Agents; Cervical Vertebrae; Female; Humans; Lumbar Vertebrae; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Osteitis; Osteogenesis; Spondylitis, Ankylosing

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a vertebral corner that demonstrates an active corner inflammatory lesion (CIL) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is more likely to evolve into a de novo syndesmophyte visible on plain radiography than is a vertebral corner that demonstrates no active inflammation on MRI. METHODS: MRI scans and plain radiographs were obtained for 29 patients recruited into randomized placebo-controlled trials of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFalpha) therapy. MRI was conducted at baseline, 12 or 24 weeks (n = 29), and 2 years (n = 22), while radiography was conducted at baseline and 2 years. A persistent CIL was defined as a CIL that was found on all available scans. A resolved CIL was defined as having completely disappeared on either the second or third scan. A validation cohort consisted of 41 AS patients followed up prospectively. Anonymized MRIs were assessed independently by 3 readers who were blinded with regard to radiographic findings. RESULTS: New syndesmophytes developed significantly more frequently in vertebral corners with inflammation (20%) than in those without inflammation (5.1%) seen on baseline MRI (P

AB - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a vertebral corner that demonstrates an active corner inflammatory lesion (CIL) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is more likely to evolve into a de novo syndesmophyte visible on plain radiography than is a vertebral corner that demonstrates no active inflammation on MRI. METHODS: MRI scans and plain radiographs were obtained for 29 patients recruited into randomized placebo-controlled trials of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFalpha) therapy. MRI was conducted at baseline, 12 or 24 weeks (n = 29), and 2 years (n = 22), while radiography was conducted at baseline and 2 years. A persistent CIL was defined as a CIL that was found on all available scans. A resolved CIL was defined as having completely disappeared on either the second or third scan. A validation cohort consisted of 41 AS patients followed up prospectively. Anonymized MRIs were assessed independently by 3 readers who were blinded with regard to radiographic findings. RESULTS: New syndesmophytes developed significantly more frequently in vertebral corners with inflammation (20%) than in those without inflammation (5.1%) seen on baseline MRI (P

U2 - 10.1002/art.24132

DO - 10.1002/art.24132

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19116919

SN - 2326-5205

VL - 60

SP - 93

EP - 102

JO - Arthritis & Rheumatology

JF - Arthritis & Rheumatology

IS - 1

ER -