NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Such genetic factors as body mass index and medial tibial bone area appear to play a role in the development of knee osteoarthritis, according to a report in the October Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Previous studies investigating possible genetic contributions to knee osteoarthritis have been inconclusive, the authors explain, but recent studies suggest that knee cartilage volume, which is highly heritable, may influence the development of knee osteoarthritis.
To look for other heritable factors, Dr. G. Jones and colleagues from Menzies Centre for Population Health Research, Tasmania, Australia compared various features of 188 offspring who had at least one parent with a total knee replacement for severe primary knee osteoarthritis with those of 188 age- and sex-matched controls with no family history of knee osteoarthritis.
Knee cartilage volume did not differ between the offspring and the controls, the authors report, but medial tibial plateau bone area was significantly higher in offspring than in controls.
“Our study can confidently reject the hypothesis that cartilage volume is lower in the offspring and does not support a role for cartilage morphology in the pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis,” the investigators write.
Subjects in the offspring group were also heavier and had higher body mass index, more than twice the knee pain, and significantly less lower limb strength than the controls.
“Our study suggests that body mass index, muscle strength, knee pain, and medial tibial bone area, but not cartilage volume, all play a role in the genetic regulation and development of knee osteoarthritis,” the researchers conclude. “Further confirmation of these results in longitudinal studies is required.”
Source: Ann Rheum Dis 2004;63:1255-1259. [ Google search on this article ]
MeSH Headings:Nervous System Diseases: Neurologic Manifestations: Pathologic Processes: Signs and Symptoms: Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms: Muscle Weakness: Neuromuscular Manifestations: DiseasesCopyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
