[Definition of and diagnostic criteria for osteoarthritis. Application of anti-osteoarthritis agents to clinical experimentation].
The best definition of osteoarthritis is anatomical, but to be rigorous must include the biochemical characteristics of osteoarthritis cartilage. The most appropriate diagnostic criteria for clinical trials are those of Lequesne. However, radiological criteria assume that osteoarthritis had already developed and should be modified in order to permit the inclusion of early stages of osteoarthritis. The ACR classification criteria are less appropriate to the needs of clinical trials because of their lack of specificity. They are, nevertheless, of interest to the clinician in diagnosis and to the epidemiologist because of their simplicity. Diagnostic criteria of early-stage osteoarthritis proposed by Amor are of great interest to the clinician. However, their application to clinical trials still suggests certain difficulties. One can hope that such difficulties will be resolved with the development of M.R.I. and/or the discovery of novel biologic markers.
Loyau
G
G
Service de Rhumatologie, CHU Côte-de-Nacre, Caen.
Caroit
M
M
Bontoux
D
D
D006801:Humans; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*
Définition et critères diagnostiques de l'arthrose. Application à l'expérimentation clinique des anti-arthrosiques.