T2* Cartilage Mapping in Early Axial Spondyloarthritis: Diagnostic Accuracy and Correlation with Clinical Characteristics and Sacroiliitis

Motivation: Cartilage degradation has been recognized as an early and crucial feature in axSpA. Goal(s): The objectives of the present study were (1) to determine the performance of T2* cartilage mapping in diagnosing and assessing disease activity in early axSpA, (2) to investigate the interaction of cartilage damage with clinical characteristics and sacroiliitis. Approach: Sacroiliac joints cartilage T2* values were higher in patients with early axSpA compared to controls without axSpA. Results: The combination of T2* values and ‘positive MRI’ improve diagnostic efficiency of axSpA. Sacroiliac joints cartilage damage correlates with age, disease activity, acute sacroiliitis, and structural damage. Impact: T2* relaxation time may be a promising imaging biomarker for diagnosing and differentiating disease activity in early axSpA. T2* mapping could be a recommended addition to routine MRI protocol of SIJs.