Utility of Radiofrequency Echographic Multi-spectrometry in Evaluating Bone Health in Patients With Spondylarthritis

Osteoporosis, a condition characterized by reduced bone strength and increased fracture risk, frequently coexists with spondyloarthritis (SpA), an inflammatory rheumatic disease. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), the gold standard for diagnosing osteoporosis, faces limitations in SpA patients due to spinal deformities and calcifications. Some studies have shown overestimation of BMD values, especially in individuals with syndesmophytic bridges and coexistent mechanical modifications such as osteophytes and discopathic lesions.

A cross-sectional study was performed to compare the results of bone mineral density (BMD) lumbar spine evaluations performed with Radiofrequency Echographic Multi-spectrometry (REMS) between a control group and a group of patients recently diagnosed with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) who did not follow any specific treatment. All study participants were informed about the objectives, examinations performed, and the use of anonymous data in databases to conduct statistical analyses and publish findings in reference medical scientific journals.

The ratio between male and female participants differed between the study groups. No significant differences were observed between the control and SpA groups, in both female and male subjects, with regard to BMD values. When factoring in the age of the patients, it was observed that the mean age of the control group was 55.53 years, while that of the SpA group was 36.96 years. This suggests that the BMD values of younger SpA patients were equivalent to those of older individuals in the control group.

REMS is a useful tool for evaluating BMD both in the general population and in SpA patients. Furthermore, the lack of any statistically significant correlation between the control and SpA groups confirms that the rheumatic disease influences lumbar bone mineralization. Also, similar BMD values were observed between the groups, despite significantly different mean ages, supporting the conclusion that bone degradation appears early in the evolution of SpA and can be correctly identified using REMS.