MRI T2 Relaxation Time as a Predictor of Osteoarthritis

描述(申请人提供)：骨关节炎(OA)是一种退行性关节疾病，仅在美国就有2700多万人受到影响。尽管骨性关节炎是一种广泛存在并使人虚弱的疾病，但目前的治疗选择极其有限，而且还没有既定的疾病修正疗法。预防骨性关节炎发病并阻止其进展的治疗方法的发展取决于早期疾病检测的非侵入性生物标记物的发现。虽然MRI可以非侵入性地显示骨关节炎关节的形态退变，但最新的MRI进展显示，在形态退变之前，可以检测软骨的早期生化变化。一种先进的MRI技术，称为T2松弛时间图，对软骨的早期生化变化很敏感，并有可能用于早期诊断OA。这项拟议的研究旨在评估没有疼痛但有发生骨性关节炎风险的受试者的软骨T2松弛时间。初步研究显示，在骨性关节炎受试者中，T2软骨的空间分布与疼痛的进展有关，这是有希望的结果。这项拟议的研究结果将是有价值的，因为它们将有助于确定通过T2映射参数量化的软骨早期生化变化是否可以预测症状性膝骨性关节炎的发生。为了处理这一专题，提出了以下三个具体目标：目标1：横断面分析。在OAI发病队列中，通过T2松弛时间的平均值、空间分布和椎板组织来确定软骨生化成分与软骨、半月板和骨髓的形态退行性变之间的关系。目的2：前瞻性分析。为了确定基线软骨生化成分是否可以预测症状性膝骨性关节炎的存在，定义为两年后疼痛的发展和软骨、半月板和骨髓形态退变的增加。目标3：纵向分析。以确定软骨生化成分的变化是否与有症状的膝骨性关节炎的存在有关。 公共卫生相关性：该项目的最终目标是评估通过新的MRI技术(特别是T2图)量化的软骨生化成分与软骨形态的纵向变化之间的关系。骨关节炎倡议(OAI)发病队列中有患骨关节炎风险的受试者将被调查。这项研究的结果将对评价MRI T2作为骨关节炎早期软骨退变的标志的作用是不可或缺的。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease, affecting more than 27 million people in the United States alone. Despite the fact that OA is a widespread and debilitating disease, current treatment options are extremely limited and no established disease-modifying therapies exist. The development of therapies that can prevent the onset OA and halt its progression is contingent upon the discovery of non-invasive biomarkers for early disease detection. While MRI can be used to non-invasively visualize morphologic joint degeneration in OA, recent MRI developments show promise for the detection of early biochemical changes in cartilage, prior to the morphologic degeneration. An advanced MRI technique, called T2 relaxation time mapping, is sensitive to early biochemical changes in cartilage and has the potential for early diagnosis of OA. The proposed study aims to evaluate cartilage T2 relaxation time in subjects who have no pain, but are at risk for the development of OA. Preliminary studies have shown promising results linking the spatial distribution of cartilage T2 to the progression of pain in subjects with OA. The results of the proposed study will be valuable in that they will help determine whether early biochemical changes in cartilage, as quantified by T2 mapping parameters, can predict the onset of symptomatic knee OA. In order to address this topic, the following three specific aims are proposed: Aim 1: Cross-sectional Analysis. To determine the relationship between cartilage biochemical composition as quantified using the mean, spatial distribution, and laminar organization of T2 relaxation time, and morphologic knee joint degeneration in the cartilage, meniscus and bone marrow, in patients from the OAI incidence cohort. Aim 2: Prospective Analysis. To determine whether baseline cartilage biochemical composition can predict the presence of symptomatic knee OA, defined as development of pain and an increase in morphologic degeneration in the cartilage, meniscus, and bone marrow after two years. Aim 3: Longitudinal Analysis. To determine whether changes in cartilage biochemical composition are related to the presence of symptomatic knee OA. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The ultimate goal of this project is to assess the relationship between cartilage biochemical composition, as quantified by novel MRI techniques (specifically T2 mapping), and longitudinal changes in cartilage morphology. Subjects from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) incidence cohort, who are at risk for developing osteoarthritis, will be investigated. The results of this study will be integral in evaluating the role of MRI T2 as a marker for early cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis.