Skip to main content
Fig. 2 | Arthritis Research & Therapy

Fig. 2

From: Functional MR imaging beyond structure and inflammation—radiographic axial spondyloarthritis is associated with proteoglycan depletion of the lumbar spine

Fig. 2

Representative morphological and compositional imaging findings of the lumbar spine of a volunteer (a, b) and a patient with r-axSpA (AS; c, d). a, c Sagittal T2-weighted images show the absence of gross morphological signs of degeneration, in particular of the intervertebral disks (IVDs). b, d Sagittal gagCEST images with overlaid colored gagCEST maps for visualization of the GAG content. High GAG content as indicated by high gagCEST values is illustrated in red, while low GAG content is indicated in blue. Notably, this patient with r-axSpA demonstrated lower GAG contents than this volunteer despite non-degenerated IVDs in both individuals

Back to article page