Striking sex differences in magnetic resonance imaging findings in the sacroiliac joints in the population

  • \(\bf Background:\) In patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to detect bone marrow edema (BME) in sacroiliac joints (SIJ) but SIJ BME are also detected in the population. Not much is known about sex differences in that regard. \(\bf Objective:\) To explore sex-specific differences associated with the extent of BME in the SIJ suggestive of axSpA in a general population cohort study. \(\bf Methods:\) Taking advantage of 793 recently evaluated MRIs of subjects < 45 years taking part in the SHIP cohort, we used negative-binomial (NB) count data regression to analyze factors associated with the extent of SIJ BME. Predictors were explored by model-based boosting (MBB), a machine learning approach. \(\bf Results:\) Estimates of NB regression showed strong effects of sex in interaction with age, BMI, back pain, and particularly HLA-B27. The NB regression model showed incidence rate ratios (IRR) for the main effect of sex (females vs. males): 0.94 [95% CI: 0.63; 1.41], HLA-B27: 4.32 [2.09; 9.8], and for the interaction of sex to HLA-B27: 0.22 [0.06; 0.75]. According to MBB, HLA-B27 positivity, BMI, current smoking, back pain in the last 3 months, the interaction of sex and HLA-B27, and delivery in the last 12 months were of highest importance to explain the extent of SIJ BME. \(\bf Conclusions\) Different factors were associated with the extent of SIJ BME in females and males. Most importantly, HLA-B27 was relevant only in males but not in females in whom a postpartal state was important. This finding may be relevant for the pathogenesis of axSpA.

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Metadaten
Author:Jürgen BraunORCiDGND, Xenofon BaraliakosORCiDGND, Robin BülowORCiDGND, Carsten SchmidtORCiDGND, Adrian RichterGND
URN:urn:nbn:de:hbz:294-103275
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-021-02712-7
Parent Title (English):Arthritis research & therapy
Publisher:BioMed Central
Place of publication:London, Vereinigtes Königreich
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2023/10/11
Date of first Publication:2022/01/20
Publishing Institution:Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsbibliothek
Tag:Open Access Fonds
Axial spondyloarthritis; Bone marrow edema; HLA-B27; Machine learning; Magnetic resonance imaging
Volume:24
Issue:Article 29
First Page:29-1
Last Page:29-8
Note:
Article Processing Charge funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and the Open Access Publication Fund of Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
Institutes/Facilities:Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet
Dewey Decimal Classification:Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / Medizin, Gesundheit
open_access (DINI-Set):open_access
Licence (English):License LogoCreative Commons - CC BY 4.0 - Attribution 4.0 International