Hyaluronic acid levels may have predictive value for the progression of knee osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To study prognostic value of different biochemical markers for morphological progression of early knee osteoarthritis.


METHODS
A total of 89 patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) were enroled into the study. The follow-up period was 2 years. Radiological OA progression was evaluated by measuring joint space width. Pentosidine was detected using the HPLC method described earlier, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) using the method published by our team. MMP-9, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP), YKL-40 and hyaluronic acid were detected using commercially available kits.


RESULTS
In the group of patients suffering from knee OA, higher serum levels of pentosidine (P=0.04), MMP-9 (P=0.02), TIMP (P=0.04) and COMP (P=0.05) were detected compared with healthy control subjects. Using a correlation analysis method, it has been found that the patients with higher basic serum levels of hyaluronic acid had a faster radiological progression (r=0.56, P<0.005), as well as the patients with higher basic serum pentosidine levels (r=0.30, P<0.005). Other biochemical markers had no statistically significant prognostic value.


CONCLUSIONS
In our study, serum levels of hyaluronic acid and pentosidine had a predictive value for further development of knee OA in that further joint space narrowing was detected in the patients with knee OA in the next 2 years.
Pavelka
K
K
Institute of Rheumatology Prague and Clinic of Rheumatology, Charles University Ist Medical School, Prague, Czech Republic. pavelka@revma.cz
Forejtová
S
S
Olejárová
M
M
Gatterová
J
J
Senolt
L
L
Spacek
P
P
Braun
M
M
Hulejová
M
M
Stovícková
J
J
Pavelková
A
A
D054392:Adipokines; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000097:blood; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D064236:Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000378:metabolism; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000032:analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D037102:Lectins; D008239:Lysine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D064235:Matrilin Proteins; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000097:blood
D054392:Adipokines; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D015415:Biomarkers; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D064236:Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D037102:Lectins; D064235:Matrilin Proteins; C577553:TSP5 protein, human; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D001120:Arginine; C062187:pentosidine; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D008239:Lysine