Osteoarthritis of the knee--clinical assessments and inflammatory markers.
OBJECTIVE
The present cross sectional study was performed to test the hypothesis that in osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee severity of this disease is related to local levels of inflammatory metabolites and their corresponding enzymes.


METHODS
From 41 patients with OA of the knee (age range 45-79 years) undergoing arthroscopy blood, synovial fluid (SF) and synovial membrane (SM) were collected. Clinical conditions were primarily assessed by the WOMAC-index and radiographic grading (K&L-grade). Concentrations of PGE(2), TxB(2)and NO(2/3)and that of IL-6, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, TNF alpha, COX-2 and iNOS were determined in SF and SM, respectively.


RESULTS
With advancing age K&L-grade and COX-2 in SM increased significantly (P=0.005 and P=0.01, respectively). TNF alpha and IL-1 alpha were not detectable in SM samples. Apart from a correlation between PGE(2)and WOMAC-index (r=0.36, P=0.035) no significant relationships could be found between the various inflammatory parameters and any of the assessed clinical signs.


CONCLUSIONS
Apparently no direct relationships exist between the measured markers of inflammation (e.g. PGE(2), NO(2/3)) or the involved enzymes (e.g. COX-2, iNOS) and the severity of OA of the knee. The degenerative condition of this disease might be due to the more local, mainly mechanical injury with little systemic upset. However, further longitudinal studies are needed to clarify whether the assessed biochemical markers could serve as predictors for the progression of OA.
Brenner
Stefanie S
SS
Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany. stefanie.brenner@ikp-stuttgart.de
Klotz
Ulrich
U
Alscher
Dominik M
DM
Mais
Anna
A
Lauer
Gereon
G
Schweer
Horst
H
Seyberth
Hannsjörg W
HW
Fritz
Peter
P
Bierbach
Uwe
U
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000737:chemistry
D018836:Inflammation Mediators