Hand radiology characteristics of patients carrying the T(303)M mutation in the gene for matrilin-3.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the recently described hand osteoarthritis (HOA)-associated T(303)M mutation in the gene for matrilin-3 (MATN3) is associated with specific radiological changes on hand radiographs.


METHODS
Standard hand radiographs from 26 HOA patients carrying the T(303)M missense mutation in the MATN3 gene (T(303)M patients) were compared with those from 52 HOA controls matched for sex, age, and clinical disease severity. Two blinded readers scored the radiographs, using the Verbruggen-Veys anatomical scoring system for the interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints and the OARSI atlas scoring system for the first carpometacarpal (CMC1) joints. A scoring system based on the latter was used for the scaphoid-trapezoid-trapezoideum (STT) joints.


RESULTS
No particular distinguishing features were found in the T(303)M patients and the prevalence of erosive and cystic changes was similar to the control group. As a group, however, the T(303)M patients had more severe thumb-base affection, particularly in the STT joint. Thus, definite radiological OA in both CMC1 and STT joints and higher STT scores compared with CMC1 were significantly more common in patients carrying the T(303)M mutation. Radiological scores for joint-space narrowing (CMC1 and STT) and osteophytes (STT) were also significantly higher in the T(303)M patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients carrying the T(303)M mutation in the gene for matrilin-3 express a form of HOA that is radiologically indistinguishable from idiopathic HOA in individual patients but they have more severe thumb-base involvement, particularly in the STT joint. This is the first described genetic mutation that is associated with a common form of osteoarthritis.
Eliasson
G J
GJ
Roentgen Domus Medica, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Verbruggen
G
G
Stefansson
S E
SE
Ingvarsson
T
T
Jonsson
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D050823:Hand Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064235:Matrilin Proteins; D008662:Metacarpophalangeal Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000235:genetics*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; D064235:Matrilin Proteins; D004247:DNA