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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Radiol Ultrasound / Tissue predictability of elastography is low in collagenase ...
Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association2021; 63(1); 111-123; doi: 10.1111/vru.13026

Tissue predictability of elastography is low in collagenase induced deep digital flexor tendinopathy.

Abstract: Elastography is an emerging imaging modality for characterizing tendon injury in horses, but its ability to differentiate tissue deformability relative to treatment group and biochemical properties using a prospective, experimental study design remain unknown. Objectives of the current study were to (a) to investigate differences in glycosaminoglycan, DNA, and soluble collagen levels in mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) treated limbs compared to untreated control limbs utilizing a collagenase model of tendinopathy; (b) compare elastographic features between treatment groups; and (c) determine tissue-level predictive capabilities of elastography in relation to biochemical outcomes. Bone marrow was collected for MSC culture and expansion. Tendinopathy of both forelimb deep digital flexor tendons (DDFTs) was induced with collagenase under ultrasonographic guidance. One randomly assigned limb was treated with intra-lesional MSC injection with the opposite limb serving as an untreated control. Horses were placed into a controlled exercise program with elastographic evaluations performed baseline (0) and 14, 60, 90, and 214 days post-treatment. Postmortem biochemical analysis was performed. MSC-treated limbs demonstrated significantly less (42%) glycosaminoglycan (P = .006). Significant differences in elastographic region of interest (ROI) percent hardness, ROI color histogram, and subjective lesion stiffness were appreciated between treatment groups at various study time points. Elastographic outcome parameters were weak predictors of biochemical tissue analysis, with all R values ≤ 0.50. Within this range of differences in glycosaminoglycan content between treatment groups, elastography outcomes did not predict biochemical differences. Tissue-specific differences between DDFTs treated with MSCs compared to controls were apparent biochemically, but not predicted by elastography.
© 2021 American College of Veterinary Radiology.
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Publication Date: 2021-09-28 PubMed ID: 34585463DOI: 10.1111/vru.13026Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research examines the use of elastography imaging for detecting changes in the tendon condition in horses. The paper found that while valuable in some respects, this technique lacks adequate predictive ability concerning biochemistry for horses suffering from collagenase-induced deep digital flexor tendinopathy, even upon the application of stem cell treatment.

Study Objectives and Methodology

  • The study begins with three objectives: Investigating biochemical differences in limbs treated with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) versus untreated ones, comparing elastographic features between the two groups, and evaluating the predictive capacity of elastography for biochemical outcomes.
  • Tendinopathy was induced in two forelimb deep digital flexor tendons (DDFTs) of each horse using collagenase(enzyme dissolving collagen) under the guidance of ultrasonography. One tendon in each horse was treated with an intra-lesional injection of MSC, while the other limb remained untreated as a control measure.
  • Post the treatment, horses were engaged in a controlled exercise schedule and elastographic examinations were conducted at specified time intervals.
  • Following euthanasia, a biochemical analysis was carried out on the sampled tissues.

Findings

  • Limbs treated with MSC showed significantly lower levels of glycosaminoglycan – a key component of connective tissues in tendons, implying that the MSC treatment had a substantial impact.
  • Elastographic observations differed between the groups, offering some insight into tendon deformability variations arising from the treatments.
  • However, the predictive capability of elastography for biochemical properties was weak, with all correlation coefficients (R values) being less than or equal to 0.50. This suggests a limited relationship between the observed elastographic data and the biochemical profile of the tissues.

Implications

  • The study reveals important differences at the molecular level between DDFTs treated with MSCs and untreated controls. These differences were not accurately predictive using elastography.
  • This suggests that while elastography may be useful for some clinical purposes, it might not be the best tool for predicting biochemical differences in tendons with medically-induced tendinopathy.
  • Further study would be useful to explore whether any other imaging or analytical tools might offer better predictive abilities.

Cite This Article

APA
Johnson SA, Biscoe EW, Eilertson KE, Lutter JD, Schneider RK, Roberts GD, Cary JA, Frisbie DD. (2021). Tissue predictability of elastography is low in collagenase induced deep digital flexor tendinopathy. Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 63(1), 111-123. https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.13026

Publication

Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association
ISSN: 1740-8261
NlmUniqueID: 9209635
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 63
Issue: 1
Pages: 111-123

Researcher Affiliations

Johnson, Sherry A
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Orthopaedic Research Center, C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Biscoe, Elizabeth W
  • Animal Imaging, Irving, Texas, USA.
Eilertson, Kirsten E
  • Graybill Statistics & Data Science Laboratory, Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Lutter, John D
  • Kansas State University Veterinary Health Center 1800 Denison Ave, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.
Schneider, Robert K
  • Schneider and Stenslie Equine, Auburn, Washington, USA.
Roberts, Gregory D
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
Cary, Julie A
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
Frisbie, David D
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Orthopaedic Research Center, C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Collagenases
  • Elasticity Imaging Techniques
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Horses
  • Prospective Studies
  • Tendinopathy / diagnostic imaging
  • Tendinopathy / veterinary

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Albanese V, Straticò P, Fischer H, Petrizzi L. Equine Distal Limb Wounds: Economic Impact and Short-Term Prognosis of Non-Synovial Versus Synovial Lesions in Southern Germany. Vet Sci 2025 Mar 1;12(3).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci12030205pubmed: 40266953google scholar: lookup
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