title: Quantitative MRI as a diagnostic tool of intervertebral disc matrix composition and integrity.
abstract: Degenerative disc disease has been implicated as a major component of spine pathology. The current major clinical procedures for treating disc degeneration have been disappointing, because of altered spinal mechanics leading to subsequent degeneration at adjacent disc levels. Disc pathology treatment is shifting toward prevention and treatment of underlying etiologic processes at the level of the disc matrix composition and integrity and the biomechanics of the disc. The ability to perform such treatment relies on one's ability to accurately and objectively assess the state of the matrix and the effectiveness of treatment by a non-invasive technique. In this review, we will summarize our advances in efforts to develop an objective, accurate, non-invasive diagnostic tool (quantitative MRI) in the detection and quantification of matrix composition and integrity and of biomechanical changes in early intervertebral disc degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, 3755 Chemin de la Cote St. Catherine, Montreal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada.
authors.forename: Fackson
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mwale
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Iatridis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Antoniou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D051445:Fibrocartilage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011509:Proteoglycans