title: Risk factors in osteoarthritis--how do they work?
abstract: Extrinsic risk factors of osteoarthritis (OA) comprise anatomical defects and mechanical insults. They alter the strength and/or the direction of forces inflicted on the matrix. This leads to damage of the fibrous network by as yet conjectural pathways. The main intrinsic risk factor is aging. Some pieces of evidence seem to point to quantitative or qualitative defects in the stabilizing factors of proteoglycan aggregates of old persons.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000209:etiology*; D012306:Risk