Novel Quantitative MRI for Axial Spondyloarthritis

This proposal aims to develop novel MR imaging and image processing techniques that will provide reliable and fully quantitative evaluation of inflammation, chronic structural changes and vascularity in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). The quantitative evaluation will be more objective and reproducible, more sensitive to subtle changes, and less time consuming, as compared to the current semi-quantitative evaluation. It will allow radiologists and rheumatologists to evaluate the inflammation and structural changes more reliably to improve early diagnosis and treatment response evaluation. The developed quantification tools can be disseminated to other research and clinical sites for retrospective and prospective data analysis, and used as outcome measures for future multi-center trials. The evaluation of vascularity will enhance Investigators understanding of disease pathophysiology and serve as a novel marker to improve investigators capability of evaluating and predicting treatment response in AS. The successful implementation will greatly assist clinicians to optimize individualized therapeutic strategies and ultimately improve patient care for AS.