Abstract
To investigate synovitis’ influence on early knee osteoarthritis (EKOA) by serum biomarkers and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in Japanese women. We enrolled 255 women aged 30–70 without radiographic abnormalities (Kellgren–Lawrence grade ≥ 2). Knee injury, OA outcome scores (KOOS), clinical examinations, and standing radiograph were used for classification criteria of EKOA. Participants were classified into normal knee group and EKOA group. All participants underwent MRIs of their right knee. The amount of effusion-synovitis volume was quantified. We compared serum matrix metalloproteinases-3 levels (MMP-3), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and adiponectin between the groups. The relationship between synovitis and EOKA was investigated using multiple linear regression. Fifty-four participants (21%) were classified as EKOA. Serum MMP-3 concentration and effusion-synovitis volume were higher in patients with EKOA (p = 0.025 and p = 0.001, respectively). Effusion-synovitis volume negatively correlated with all KOOS subscales and positively correlated with serum MMP-3 concentration. Serum MMP-3 concentration was associated with effusion-synovitis volume β = 0.60, p < 0.001). There was mildly active but definitive synovitis in EKOA. This was an observational study so that no conclusions can be drawn regarding cause-effect for synovitis and symptoms. Future studies should conduct follow-up of participants with synovitis to assess the progression of knee OA.
Highlights
To investigate synovitis’ influence on early knee osteoarthritis (EKOA) by serum biomarkers and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in Japanese women
The number of participants with normal knee were 201(79%), and with EKOA were 54 (21%); the number of participants diagnosed with EKOA was 2 in the 30–39-year-old group, 14 in the 40–49-year-old group, 19 in the 50–59-year-old group and 12 in the 60–70-year-old group; the mean age was 54.5 ± 9.3 years, and the mean BMI was 22.1 ± 3.1 kg/m2; age and BMI showed no significant difference between the normal and EKOA groups (p = 0.341 and p = 0.299, respectively) (Table 1)
35% of patients (25 of 71) were diagnosed with EKOA; sensitivity was 46% and specificity was 77%. This is the first study to report the relationship between serum biomarkers and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluations in the general Japanese population with EKOA, which was diagnosed based on the new criteria proposed by Luyten et al Both the mean serum MMP-3 concentrations and the effusion-synovitis volume were higher in the EKOA group than those in the normal group
Summary
To investigate synovitis’ influence on early knee osteoarthritis (EKOA) by serum biomarkers and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in Japanese women. Serum MMP-3 concentration and effusion-synovitis volume were higher in patients with EKOA (p = 0.025 and p = 0.001, respectively). Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a major joint disease that causes chronic pain, stiffness, and disability, especially in the aging p opulation[1,2]. The Framingham osteoarthritis study suggested that the prevalence of any abnormality was seen in 89% of participants without radiographic abnormalities[9] These findings suggest that MRI can detect features suggestive of Scientific Reports | (2020) 10:12310. MMP-3, ng/mL hs-CRP, mg/dL IL-6, pg/mL Adiponectin, μg/ml knee osteoarthritis that cannot be visualized on conventional radiographs; the correlation between MRI findings and EKOA detected using the new criteria is unclear
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