Michel D. Crema MD, Presenter: Shareholder, Boston Imaging Core Lab, LLC

David J. Hunter MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Royalties, DJO GLobal, Inc

Deborah Burstein PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Spouse, Employee, Bruker Corporation

Frank W. Roemer MD, Abstract Co-Author: Chief Medical Officer, Boston Imaging Core Lab LLC Research Director, Boston Imaging Core Lab LLC Shareholder, Boston Imaging Core Lab LLC

Jose Roberto Silva MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ali Guermazi MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: President, Boston Imaging Core Lab, LLC Research Consultant, Merck KgaA Research Consultant, Sanofi-Aventis Group Research Consultant, TissueGene, Inc

The dGEMRIC technique is capable of detecting early changes in the glycosamoniglycan content of cartilage, which may potentially lead to changes in cartilage morphology. The aim of this study was to assess the associations of baseline dGEMRIC as well as changes in dGEMRIC indices with cartilage loss in the same region of the knee over one year, in a sample of middle-aged women.

A total of 140 women (1 knee per subject) aged ≥ 40 years were prospectively included. 3.0T MRI of the knee was performed at baseline and at one year follow-up. T2-weighted fat-suppressed sequences were used to assess cartilage morphology using the BLOKS scoring system. A 3D inversion recovery-prepared SPGR sequence 90 minutes after i.v. gadolinium injection was acquired for dGEMRIC assessment. Cartilage morphology and dGEMRIC were assessed at baseline and follow-up MRIs in four distinct regions of tibiofemoral compartments: medial femur, medial tibia, lateral femur, and lateral tibia. A decrease in dGEMRIC indices over one year was considered as the predictor of cartilage loss (considered here as any increase of grade in BLOKS – outcome). The association of any decrease in dGEMRIC indices from baseline to follow-up with cartilage loss in the same region was assessed using logistic regression. In addition we used the maximal statistical approach to determine at which cut-off value baseline dGEMRIC would be most predictive for cartilage loss after one year.

A total of 433 regions were included in the analyses; 25 (5.8%) had cartilage loss over one year and 408 (92.2%) did not. Furthermore, 153 (35.3%) regions had a decrease in dGEMRIC indices over one year and 280 (64.7%) did not. No significant associations between change in dGEMRIC indices over time and cartilage loss were observed. A cut-off value of dGEMRIC predicting cartilage loss could not be established.

The predictive effect of changes in dGEMRIC on cartilage loss in the tibiofemoral compartments over one year could not be demonstrated in this sample of middle-aged women.

The monitoring of changes in dGEMRIC indices over time still need to be validated before it can be applied as an imaging biomarker of longitudinal cartilage loss.

Crema, M, Hunter, D, Burstein, D, Roemer, F, Silva, J, Guermazi, A, Changes in Delayed Gadolinium-enhanced MRI of Cartilage (dGEMRIC) Indices and the Association with Cartilage Loss in the Tibiofemoral Compartments over 1 Year: a 3.0T MRI Study.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14011826.html