title: Changes in knee cartilage T2 values over 24 months in subjects with and without risk factors for knee osteoarthritis and their association with focal knee lesions at baseline: data from the osteoarthritis initiative.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the changes in knee cartilage T2 values over 24 months in subjects with and without risk factors for knee osteoarthritis (OA) and their association with focal knee lesions at baseline.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one subjects without and 101 subjects with OA risk factors (such as history of knee injury or surgery) were selected from the Osteoarthritis Initiative database (age: 45-55 years, no radiographic OA in the right knee). Baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the right knee were assessed for prevalence and grade of focal knee lesions. Right knee cartilage T2 measurements were performed in five compartments (patella, medial/lateral femur/tibia) at baseline and at 24-month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to subjects without OA risk factors, those with OA risk factors showed no significant differences in baseline prevalence and grade of focal knee lesions (P > .05), but had significantly higher T2 values in the medial femur compartment at both timepoints (P < 0.05). T2 values averaged over all five compartments increased significantly over 24 months in both groups, but differences in T2 increase between the groups were not significant. Subjects with cartilage lesions showed significantly higher T2 values compared to subjects without cartilage lesions at both timepoints, but no accelerated T2 increase over 24 months (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cartilage T2 values significantly increased over 24 months in subjects with and without OA risk factors, but neither the presence of OA risk factors nor the presence of cartilage lesions at baseline were associated with these T2 increases.
authors: Musculoskeletal and Quantitative Imaging Research Group, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94107, USA. thbaum@gmx.de
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Baum
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Stehling
authors: Gabby B
authors: GB
authors: Joseph
authors: Julio
authors: J
authors: Carballido-Gamio
authors: Benedikt J
authors: BJ
authors: Schwaiger
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Müller-Höcker
authors: Michael C
authors: MC
authors: Nevitt
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Lynch
authors: Charles E
authors: CE
authors: McCulloch
authors: Thomas M
authors: TM
authors: Link
mesh_terms: D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D016015:Logistic Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000473:pathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors