title: Human cartilage glycoprotein 39--biomarker of joint damage in knee osteoarthritis.
abstract: Human glycoprotein of cartilage (YKL-40) synthesizes chondrocytes and synovial cells in inflammatory conditions or remodels the outer cell matrix in osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to conduct a parallel analysis between thickness of cartilage and length of osteophytes, ultrasound indicators of joint destruction, with levels of YKL-40 in serum in patients with primary osteoarthritis. Ultrasound findings and concentration of YKL-40(ng/ml) were examined in 88 patients. The average value cartilage thickness measured on medial condyles of the femur was 1.30 +/- 0.23 mm and on lateral was 1.39 +/- 0.27 mm. Median YKL-40 in patients with shorter osteophytes was 62.0 (44.5-90) ng/ml, and with longer osteophytes was 119 (range 80-171) ng/ml (p = 0.000). YKL-40 can be a marker for the appearance of longer osteophytes (sensitivity = 79.1%; specificity = 61.9%; cut off = 75.0 ng/ml). The duration of illness is very much connected to values of YKL-40 (r = 0.651, p = 0.000). After an illness duration of five years, the concentration of YKL-40 was 83.68 +/- 33.65 ng/ml, after ten years it was 138.22 +/- 48.88 ng/ml, and after 15 and 20 years it was 209.30 +/- 79.36 ng/ml and 218.50 +/- 106.51 ng/ml, respectively. Higher concentrations of YKL-40 indicate the level of cartilage destruction and can be used for assessment of destruction.
authors.affiliation: Health Centre Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia. zivanovicsandra@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zivanović
authors.forename: Ljiljana Petrović
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Rackov
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vojvodić
authors.forename: Dusan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vucetić
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000097:blood*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D054850:Osteophyte / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D015415:Biomarkers; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D006023:Glycoproteins; D037102:Lectins