FRI0549 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Structural Alterations Associated with Active Discopathy of the Lumbar Spine: Identification of Two Phenotypically Distinct Subsets of Vertebral Endplate Modic 1 Signal Changes

• Published in: Annals of the rheumatic diseases Vol. 74; no. Suppl 2; pp. 626 - 627
• Main Authors: Nguyen, C., Jousse, M., Sanchez, K., Feydy, A., Revel, M., Lefèvre-Colau, M.-M., Poiraudeau, S., Rannou, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01.06.2015
• ISSN: 0003-4967; 1468-2060
• DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-eular.1234

BackgroundActive discopathy detected on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and also known as Modic 1 signal changes, encompasses clinical, radiological and biological features, enabling to define a specific subset of patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP). Modic 1 changes are largely associated with degenerative disc disease (DDD) features, however we hypothesized that a specific subset of Modic 1 patients may display milder DDD.ObjectivesTo determine Modic 1 MRI-associated structural alterations, and to identify Modic 1 subsets based on MRI findings.MethodsMRI computerized database of a tertiary care hospital in France was searched between 01/01/2006 and 01/31/2008. MRI of the lumbar spine were systematically screened by two assessors. When Modic 1 changes were present at a single level on both adjacent endplates, MRI were considered eligible, and demographics and MRI-associated structural changes were assessed.ResultsOut of 12,840 recorded MRI, 101 MRI were eligible. Patients' mean age was 56.6 (13.4) years and 41 (40.6%) were males. Modic 1 changes were more frequent at L4/L5 and L5/S1 levels (37[36.6%], respectively). The most frequent MRI-associated structural alterations were >50% intervertebral space narrowing (IVSN) (70[69.3%]), anterior (51[50.5%]) and posterior (56[55.4%]) disc herniations, and anterior (68[67.3%]) and lateral (59[58.4%]) osteophytes. ≤50% IVSN Modic 1 differed from >50% IVSN Modic 1. On bivariable analysis, patients were younger (51.5[14.1] vs 58.8[12.6] years, p=0.019), ≤50% IVSN Modic 1 were more often located at L5/S1 level (19[61.3%] vs 18[25.7%], p=0.001), and anterior and lateral osteophytes were less frequent (13[41.9%] vs 55[78.6%], p<0.001, and 11[35.5%] vs 48[68.6%], p=0.002, respectively). On multivariable analysis, variables independently associated with >50% IVSN Modic 1 were location at L4/L5 level, anterior disc herniation and lateral osteophyte.ConclusionsModic 1 changes are frequently associated with MRI DDD features. However, we identified a distinct ≤50% IVSN Modic 1 subset that occurs in younger patients, and is associated with less advanced DDD features.Disclosure of InterestNone declared