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. 2022 Nov 24;4(4):100323.
doi: 10.1016/j.ocarto.2022.100323. eCollection 2022 Dec.

The search for systemic biomarkers for monitoring degenerative lumbar spinal disorders

Nader Tarabeih  1   2 , Adel Shalata  3 , Orabi Higla  4 , Alexander Kalinkovich  1 , Gregory Livshits  5
Affiliations

The search for systemic biomarkers for monitoring degenerative lumbar spinal disorders

Nader Tarabeih et al. Osteoarthr Cartil Open. .

Abstract

Objectives: In our previous study, we reported that low back pain (LBP) severity and disability significantly correlate with body composition and several blood biochemical factors. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that these covariates are associated with anatomical deformations of the lumbar spine, in particular, radiographic facet joint osteoarthritis (FJOA) and lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) features important contributors to LBP.

Methods: CT and MRI images of the lumbar spine were obtained from 200 individuals suffering from LBP-sciatica. We examined the FJOA and total LDD score - the sum of the scores of the three radiographic features (intervertebral disc herniation, osteophythosis and spondylolisthesis) at the L1 - S1 vertebral levels. By implementing a bioelectrical impedance analysis, we assessed the participants for body composition, specifically, extracellular water (ECW). Plasma levels of growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) and visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor (vaspin), were detected by ELISA.

Results: By conducting a series of multivariable regression analyses, we report that the circulating levels of GDF-15, vaspin, and ECW are significantly and independently associated with FJOA scores [βGDF15 ​= ​0.38 ​± ​0.08, p ​= ​0.0001; βVASPIN ​= ​0.36 ​± ​0.07, p ​= ​0.000004; βECW ​= ​0.24 ​± ​0.07, p ​= ​0.002]. The levels of GDF-15 (β ​= ​0.30 ​± ​0.10, p ​= ​0.007) and ECW (β ​= ​0.20 ​± ​0.09, p ​= ​0.03) were also found significantly associated with the LDD scores.

Conclusion: The obtained new data suggest that GDF-15, vaspin and ECW may serve as biomarkers for FJOA and LDD phenotypes.

Keywords: Body composition; Facet joint osteoarthritis; GDF-15; Low back pain; Lumbar intervertebral disk; Vaspin.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Axial computed tomography images depicting the anatomical variation in the articular surface of the facet joints. Figure presents two typical examples of FJOA appearance in two LBP individuals vs a healthy individual. (A) The L2/L3 facet joints of a 49-year-old woman without FJOA (score ​= ​0, considered normal); (B) a 51-year-old woman with LBP accompanied by sciatica and FJOA, joint space narrowing in the right side with osteophyte, and subchondral cyst of L4/L5; (C) a 52-year-old woman with LBP accompanied by sciatica and FJOA: C1, degenerative facet joint of L3/L4 with osteophytosis in the right side (arrow), and C2, degenerative facet joint of L4-5 with the osteophytosis in both sides. The individuals have the following FJOA scores: A ​= ​0, B ​= ​5 and C ​= ​9. Corresponding levels of soluble biomarkers and ECW are presented in the table.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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