title: Prevalent cartilage damage and cartilage loss over time are associated with incident bone marrow lesions in the tibiofemoral compartments: the MOST study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the association of prevalent cartilage damage and cartilage loss over time with incident bone marrow lesions (BMLs) in the same subregion of the tibiofemoral compartments as detected on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  The Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study is an observational study of individuals with or at risk for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Subjects whose baseline and 30-month follow-up MRIs were read for findings of OA were included. MRI was performed with a 1.0 T extremity system. Tibiofemoral compartments were divided into 10 subregions. Cartilage morphology was scored from 0 to 6 and BMLs were scored from 0 to 3. Prevalent cartilage damage and cartilage loss over time were considered predictors of incident BMLs. Associations were assessed using logistic regression, with adjustments for potential confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Medially, incident BMLs were associated with baseline cartilage damage (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.9 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.0, 5.1]), incident cartilage loss (7.3 [95% CI 5.0, 10.7]) and progression of cartilage loss (7.6 [95% CI 5.1, 11.3]) Laterally, incident BMLs were associated with baseline cartilage damage (4.1 [95% CI 2.6, 6.3]), incident cartilage loss (6.0 [95% CI 3.1, 11.8]), and progression of cartilage loss (11.9 [95% CI 6.2, 23.0]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalent cartilage damage and cartilage loss over time are strongly associated with incident BMLs in the same subregion, supporting the significance of the close interrelation of the osteochondral unit in the progression of knee OA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Quantitative Imaging Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA. michelcrema@gmail.com
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Crema
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Felson
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Roemer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Marra
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nevitt
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torner
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guermazi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors