Correlation between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and the new bone formation factor Dkk-1 in patients with spondyloarthritis

Abstract

In recent years, MRI has been regarded as a major diagnostic tool for spondyloarthritis (SpA), and anti-TNF therapy has been widely confirmed as an effective treatment strategy. This study was designed to investigate the correlation between the secreted protein dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) and abnormal findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) through a prospective study of 30 cases of SpA. Thirty patients with active SpA were included, all treated with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-antibody fusion protein (YiSaiPu) injection at 50 mg/week for 6 months. All patients were also examined for their clinical, serological, and imaging manifestations of the condition before and after treatment. In patients receiving TNF inhibitor treatment, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and clinical activity indices BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, ASDAS-CRP were significantly decreased (p < 0.01). Serum Dkk-1 concentration was also significantly decreased (p < 0.05), as were the scores of bone marrow edema of the sacroiliac joints and the spine (p < 0.05). The score of sacroiliac joint backfill was significantly increased (p < 0.05), and the baseline and changes in the serum Dkk-1 concentration were significantly correlated with the baseline and changes in spinal bone marrow edema levels. Inhibition of the level of serum Dkk-1 by TNF inhibitors may be the molecular basis for inhibiting the formation of new bone in SpA patients. In addition, spinal marrow edema may have significance for predicting new bone formation.

Keywords: Dkk-1; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Spondyloarthritis (SpA); TNF inhibitors.