LAUSR

To assess the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content of lumbar intervertebral discs (IVD) in elite rowers (ER) at different stages of their annual training cycle and compared to healthy volunteers (HV) using GAG chemical exchange saturation transfer (gagCEST).Does GAG content of IVDs differs between ER in different stages of the training cycle from HV?205 lumbar IVD of 21 ER (23 ±3 years, 9 female, 11 male) and 25 HV (27 ±2 years, 13 female, 12 male) were prospectively examined with 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Standard T2 weighted (T2w) sequences were used for morphological grading according to the Pfirrmann classification. GAG content of the nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus was determined with gagCEST in non-degenerated discs according to Pfirrmann. ER were examined during the peak of their competition preparation (T0) and 6 months later during the peak of their post-competition recovery period (T1).At T0 we found significantly higher gagCEST values in ER (A) compared to HV (C) (NP: 4.26 ±2.37% vs. 3.38 ±1.72%, p<0.05; confidence interval (CI) 0.32%/1.44%; AF: 2.75 ±1.7% vs.1.961 ±1.23%, p<0.01; CI 0.4%/1.2%). At T1 gagCEST values in ER (B) decreased and illustrated no significant difference compared to HV (C) (NP: 3.55 ± 2.31%, p = 0.531, CI 0.038%/0.73%; AF: 2.31 ±1.57%, p = 0.073, CI 0.03%/0.74%).Compared to HV lumbar IVD of ER show significantly higher gagCEST values during the peak of their competition preparation and similar values during the recovery period, indicating a GAG remodelling effect by training.Figure 1.Comparison of gagCEST values of lumbar IVD between ER (A, T0; B, T1) and HV.Philipp Sewerin Grant/research support from: AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KGBristol-Myers Squibb Celgene GmbHLilly Deutschland GmbHNovartis Pharma GmbH Pfizer Deutschland GmbHRheumazentrum Rhein-Ruhr, Consultant of: AMGEN GmbH AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG Biogen GmbHBristol-Myers Squibb Celgene GmbH Chugai Pharma arketing Ltd. / Chugai Europe GmbHHexal Pharma Janssen-CilagGmbH Johnson & Johnson Deutschland GmbHLilly Deutschland GmbH / Lilly Europe / Lilly Global Novartis Pharma GmbH Pfizer Deutschland GmbH Roche Pharma Rheumazentrum Rhein-Ruhr Sanofi-Genzyme Deutschland GmbH Swedish Orphan Biovitrum GmbH UCB Pharma GmbH, Speakers bureau: AMGEN GmbH AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG Biogen GmbHBristol-Myers Squibb Celgene GmbH Chugai Pharma arketing Ltd. / Chugai Europe GmbHHexal Pharma Janssen-CilagGmbH Johnson & Johnson Deutschland GmbHLilly Deutschland GmbH / Lilly Europe / Lilly Global Novartis Pharma GmbH Pfizer Deutschland GmbH Roche Pharma Rheumazentrum Rhein-Ruhr Sanofi-Genzyme Deutschland GmbH Swedish Orphan Biovitrum GmbH UCB Pharma GmbH, Daniel Abrar: None declared, Miriam Frenken: None declared, Matthias Schneider Grant/research support from: GSK, UCB, Abbvie, Consultant of: Abbvie, Alexion, Astra Zeneca, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead, Lilly, Sanofi, UCB, Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Astra Zeneca, BMS, Chugai, GSK, Lilly, Pfizer, Sanofi, Benedikt Ostendorf: None declared, Christoph Schleich: None declared