T2 mapping magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage in hemophilia
Benjamin Brakel, Marshall S. Sussman, Haris Majeed, Jerry Teitel, Carina Man, Tammy Rayner, Ruth Weiss, Rahim Moineddin, Victor S. Blanchette, Andréa S. Doria
Abstract
Background: In hemophilia, recurrent hemarthrosis may lead to irreversible arthropathy. T2 mapping MRI may reflect cartilage changes at an earlier reversible stage of arthropathy as opposed to structural MRI. Objectives: To evaluate interval changes of T2 mapping compared with the International Prophylaxis Study Group (IPSG) structural MRI scores of ankle cartilage in boys with hemophilia receiving prophylaxis. Methods: Eight boys with hemophilia A (median age, 13; range, 9-17 years), 7 age- and sex-matched healthy boys (controls, median age, 15; range, 7-16 years). A multiecho spin-echo T2-weighted MRI sequence at 3.0T was used to obtain T2 maps of cartilage of boys with hemophilia and controls. Structural joint status was evaluated using the IPSG MRI score. Results: .004]) changes in most regions-of-interest. Conclusion: T2 mapping shows sensitivity to biochemical changes in cartilage prior to detectable damage using conventional MRI, offering potential for early detection of bleed-related cartilage damage in boys with hemophilia.