Associations between vertebral body fat fraction and intervertebral disc biochemical composition as assessed by quantitative MRI

Background There is an interplay between the intervertebral disc (IVD) and the adjacent bone marrow that may play a role in the development of IVD degeneration and might influence chronic lower back pain (CLBP). Purpose To apply novel quantitative MRI techniques to assess the relationship between vertebral bone marrow fat (BMF) and biochemical changes in the adjacent IVD. Study Type Prospective. Subjects Forty‐six subjects (26 female and 20 male) with a mean age of 47.3 ± 12.0 years. Field Strength/Sequence 3 T MRI; a combined T1ρ and T2 mapping pulse sequence and a 3D spoiled gradient recalled sequence with six echoes and iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least‐squares estimation (IDEAL) reconstruction algorithm. Assessment Using quantitative MRI, the vertebral BMF fraction was measured as well as the biochemical composition (proteoglycan and collagen content) of the IVD. Furthermore, clinical Pfirrmann grading, Oswestry disability index (ODI), and visual analog scale (VAS) was assessed. Statistical Tests Mixed random effects models accounting for multiple measurements per subject were used to assess the relationships between disc measurements and BMF. Results The relationships between BMF (mean) and T1ρ/T2 (mean and SD) were significant, with P