Aclarion's Nociscan AI Advances Understanding of Chronic Low Back Pain

A recent study utilizing Aclarion's Nociscan AI technology has shed new light on the understanding of Modic changes (MC) in patients suffering from chronic low back pain (cLBP). The findings, presented at the 50th International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine Annual Meeting 2024 in Milan, Italy, suggest that measuring intradiscal propionic acid (PA) levels could help stratify patients with MC and potentially inform better treatment decisions.

The prospective study, conducted by researchers at the REACH Center at UCSF, involved 88 patients with low back pain lasting more than three months. Using Aclarion's Nociscan solution, which employs magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to non-invasively measure chemical biomarkers in spinal discs, the researchers compared PA levels adjacent to vertebral endplates with MC.

Dr. Aaron Fields, lead researcher on the study, emphasized the importance of understanding the biopsychosocial mechanisms of chronic low back pain. The results challenge the long-held belief that the disc environment is sterile and suggest that PA levels could be a valuable indicator for determining why some patients with MC improve or respond to treatment while others do not.

This research has significant implications for the 266 million people worldwide who suffer from spinal degeneration and low back pain. Modic changes, which are irregularities in vertebral endplates visible on MRI, have become an important area of research in recent years. The ability to non-invasively measure PA levels using Nociscan technology could potentially lead to more personalized treatment approaches, including the possibility of using antibiotics as a first-line treatment for patients with high PA levels.

Ryan Bond, Chief Strategy Officer at Aclarion, highlighted the company's focus on providing physicians with new non-invasive information to improve patient care decisions. The use of Nociscan technology to identify biomarkers associated with disc pain represents a significant step forward in the field of chronic low back pain management.

As the first evidence-supported SaaS platform to help physicians distinguish between painful and non-painful discs in the lumbar spine, Nociscan's role in this study underscores its potential to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of chronic low back pain. By objectively quantifying chemical biomarkers associated with disc pain and using proprietary algorithms to highlight potential pain sources, Nociscan provides critical insights that can be used in conjunction with other diagnostic tools.

The implications of this research extend beyond the immediate field of chronic low back pain management. By challenging existing notions about disc environments and providing a new tool for stratifying patients with Modic changes, this study opens up new avenues for research and treatment development. Future studies may explore the efficacy of targeted antibiotic treatments for patients with high PA levels, potentially leading to more effective and personalized treatment protocols for chronic low back pain.

As research in this area continues to evolve, the role of advanced technologies like Aclarion's Nociscan AI in improving patient outcomes and reducing the global burden of chronic low back pain becomes increasingly clear. This study represents a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to better understand and treat one of the most common and debilitating health issues facing people worldwide.