Journal Facts

Journal
BoneKEy Reports
ISSN
2047-6396
Volume
4
Year
2015

Article Facts

Title
Treatment of bone marrow lesions (bone marrow edema)
DOI
10.1038/bonekey.2015.124
Authors

Erik F Eriksen

Online Date
11/25/2015

Article Links

BoneKEy Reports | Reviews

Treatment of bone marrow lesions (bone marrow edema)

Erik F Eriksen


DOI:10.1038/bonekey.2015.124

Abstract

Bone marrow lesions (BMLs) or using older terminology ‘Bone marrow edema’ is characterised by excessive water signals in the marrow space on magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound; BMLs constitute a central component of a wide variety of inflammatory and non-inflammatory rheumatologic conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system: BMLs are not only considered significant sources of pain but also linked to increased disease activity in many musculoskeletal conditions (for example, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis). The purpose of this review is to summarise current knowledge about the treatment of BMLs, with an emphasis on the clinical and histological features of this entity in inflammatory and non-inflammatory disease. We also try to pair this hypothesis with the apparent beneficial effects of various treatment regimens, mainly within the group of bone antiresorptive drugs (calcitonin, bisphosphonates) on symptoms associated with BMLs.

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