Abstract #2732

Functional Gradient Indices for the Early Detection and Prediction of Osteoarthritis: Data from Human Explants and the OAI Database

Robert L. Wilson¹, Nancy C. Emery², David M. Pierce^3,4, and Corey P. Neu¹

¹Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States, ²Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States, ³Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States, ⁴Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States

Spatial gradients in articular cartilage structure trend toward homogeneity with onset and progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Exploiting MRI, we compared heterogeneous variations in tissue structure, and the corresponding function, to OA severity through the use of spatial first derivatives, herein termed functional gradient indices (FGIs), providing new biomarkers indicating tissue state. We evaluated FGI maps of MRI data visualizing osteochondral human explants and OAI subjects for relationships to OA severity. FGI data correlated significantly with tissue health, while traditional metrics did not. The sensitivity and versatility of FGI analysis suggests a novel biomarker with improved detection of early disease pathogenesis.

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