Aclarion, Inc.'s Nociscan solution has significantly advanced the understanding of Modic changes (MC) in patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP), as revealed in a study presented at the 50th International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine (ISSLS) Annual Meeting 2024. This research, conducted by the REACH Center at UCSF, utilized Nociscan's magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to measure intradiscal propionic acid (PA) levels, challenging previous assumptions about the disc environment's sterility and opening new avenues for treatment.
The study's lead researcher, Dr. Aaron Fields, pointed out the critical role of understanding the biopsychosocial mechanisms behind cLBP. The findings suggest that PA levels could be key in predicting treatment responses among patients with MC, marking a significant departure from traditional views. Aclarion's Nociscan, the first evidence-supported SaaS platform for noninvasive disc pain assessment, quantifies chemical biomarkers to pinpoint pain sources, offering a leap forward in diagnostic precision.
With spinal degeneration and low back pain affecting 266 million people globally, the implications of this research are profound. Modic changes, detectable via MRI, have become a focal point in spinal health studies. The potential to noninvasively diagnose disc infections linked to MC could transform treatment paradigms, as emphasized by Ryan Bond, Aclarion's Chief Strategy Officer. The technology's ability to identify specific biomarkers paves the way for customized treatment strategies, potentially including antibiotics for patients with elevated PA levels.
The presentation at the ISSLS Annual Meeting highlights the medical community's growing reliance on advanced diagnostic tools like Nociscan. As the study suggests future research directions, including antibiotic therapy for cLBP patients with high PA levels, the technology stands at the forefront of innovative solutions for chronic pain management. By enabling more informed clinical decisions, Nociscan could significantly improve outcomes for millions suffering from low back pain worldwide.
