Histomorphology and immunohistochemical patterns in degenerative disc disease and clinical-radiological correlations: a prospective study

Massimo Miscusi, Cristina Carnevali, Luca Ricciardi, Selenia Miglietta, Vincenzo Petrozza, Jessica Cacciotti, Antonella Calogero, Paolo Rosa, Giuseppe Familiari, Antonino Raco

June 2020, Volume 29, Issue 6, pp 1410 - 1415 Original Article Read Full Article 10.1007/s00586-020-06412-9

First Online: 16 April 2020

Histomorphology and immunohistochemical patterns in degenerative disc disease and clinical-radiological correlations: a prospective study

Purpose

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a common condition causing low-back pain, disability and, eventually, neurological symptoms. This investigation aimed to investigate intervertebral disc DDD-related changes, evaluating histomorphology and cytokines secretion, and their clinical-radiological correlations.

Methods

This is a monocentric prospective observational study. A cohort of patients who underwent microdiscectomy for DDD, from June 2018 to January 2019, were enrolled. Discs samples were examined for histomorphology, chondrons count, immunohistochemistry for Hif-1α, Nf200 and Egr-1. Demographical and clinical data were also collected.

Results

Twenty patients were finally included. MRI evaluation showed a Modic I alteration in nine patients and a Modic II in 11. The disability grade was low-moderate (ODI score was ≤ 40%) in eight patients and high (ODI score > 40%) in 12. The Modic I was associated with a low-moderate disability in two (22%) patients and to a high disability in seven (88%) (p < 0.01). In Modic I group and in ODI > 40% groups, there were a significative higher mean disability grade 48.4 (± 8.3)%, number of chondrons per section, cells per chondron, Nf200+ nerve fibers and Hif-1α expression, compared with Modic II and ODI ≤ 40% groups, respectively. There were no differences in terms of Egr-1 expression.

Conclusions

The discs with Modic I MRI signal could represent potential targets for medical treatments, whereas Modic II seems to be a more likely point of no return in a degenerative process. Therefore, further investigations are to better investigate inflammatory pathways and degenerative mechanisms in DDD.

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