Longitudinal evaluation of reparative cartilage after matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte implantation with delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the cartilage / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To estimate zonal variation of GAG content in reparative cartilage after matrix associated autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) using delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the cartilage (dGEMRIC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seven patients (14 cartilage defects) undergoing MACI were recruited for examination with dGEMRIC at 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure to calculate global and zonal longitudinal relaxivity (&Delta; R1) of the normal cartilage and reparative cartilage.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean &Delta; R1 values of normal cartilage were significantly lower than those of reparative cartilage after MACI. A significant decrease was noted in the mean &Delta; R1 values from the deep layer to the superficial layer in the reparative cartilage at the 3 examinations. The &Delta; R1 values of the reparative cartilage showed no significant variation between 3 months and 6 months, but a significant decrease in the &Delta; R1 values occurred at 12 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>dGEMRIC is feasible to assess cartilage repair noninvasively following MACI.</p>