Measuring syndesmophytes in axial spondyloarthritis (v1.0)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Measuring syndesmophytes in axial spondyloarthritis using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry: Pilot study
IRAS ID
197215
Contact name
Nicola Goodson
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) causes inflammation of the spine. The underlying disease process includes extra bone formation (syndesmophytes) leading to fused spine and consequently immobility, disability, and increased risk of fractures.
The best method we have to measure syndesmophyte formation is the modified Stoke AS spine score (mSASSS), which gives scores to lateral spine X-rays. This scoring system is dependent on image quality, position of the patient and the scoring researcher, and is therefore not very reliable or good at detecting small changes. It also exposes patients to high doses of radiation and is therefore only used in research and not clinical practice, where there is currently no method of assessing disease progression by imaging.
We are interested in developing a widely available technology called a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) to reliably measure the amount of syndesmophytes. DEXA scans use a much smaller amount of radiation and is already routinely done for axSpA patients to investigate osteoporosis. This small exploratory study aims to see if this is possible.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
16/NS/0019
Date of REC Opinion
12 Feb 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion