Knee Osteoarthritis In Men Research Articles

The role of polymorphism of candidate genes in the development of knee osteoarthritis in men of the Central Chernozem region of Russia

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease resulting from the interaction of many local and systemic risk factors, among which an important role is played by genetic (hereditary) factors. This disease affects both men and women, but there are certain differences in the development and progression of the disease in different sexes.Aim: To study associations of polymorphic loci of candidate genes with the risk of developing knee ОА in the male population of the Central Chernozem region of Russia.Material and Methods. The study sample included 410 men (208 patients with knee OA and 202 controls). Ten polymorphic loci of candidate genes were genotyped: rs2820436 and rs2820443 LYPLAL1, rs3771501 TGFA, rs11177 GNL3, rs6976 GLT8D1, rs1060105 and rs56116847 SBNO1, rs6499244 NFAT5, rs34195470 WWP2, rs143384 GDF5. The study of associations of polymorphic genetic loci with the development of the disease was carried out by the method of logistic regression, taking into account covariates (age, BMI). The MB-MDR method was used to study intergenic interactions of polymorphisms associated with the disease.Results and Discussion. It was found that nine out of ten polymorphic loci of candidate genes (with the exception of rs6976 GLT8D1) are associated with the formation of knee OA in men in four models of interlocus interactions (pperm ≤ 0.024). The rs3771501 TGFA polymorphic locus (included in three of the four most significant models of gene-gene interactions) demonstrates the greatest contribution to the development of the disease in men. Independent effects of the studied polymorphic loci of candidate genes in the development of knee OA in men have not been identified (р > 0,05).Conclusion. Polymorphic loci rs2820436 and rs2820443 LYPLAL1, rs3771501 TGFA, rs11177 GNL3, rs6976 GLT8D1, rs1060105 and rs56116847 SBNO1, rs6499244 NFAT5, rs34195470 WWP2, rs143384 GDF5 involved in the development of knee osteoarthritis in men in four models of intergenic interactions. Among the studied loci, rs3771501 of the TGFA gene has the greatest contribution to disease susceptibility.

Association of bone mineral density with the development of knee osteoarthritis in men and women: a cross-sectional study using the fourth and fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of BMD in various body parts in conjunction with the presence or severity of radiographic knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in relation to sex. This study was a cross-sectional analysis using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. KOA was graded using the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grading system. Radiographic KOA was defined as a KL grade 2 or higher. The associations between KOA and BMD in certain body parts (femur, pelvis, lumbar, lower leg, and whole-body) were assessed. BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The BMD of each body part was divided into quartiles and the relationship between KOA and BMD was examined according to sex. BMD did not show a significant tendency according to KL grade in either sex. In men, the severity of KL grade have a statistically significant relationship with total femur (R2 = 0.303, p < 0.05), femur neck (R2 = 0.257, p < 0.05), lumbar (R2 = 0.137, p < 0.05), and pelvis BMD (R2 = 0.185, p < 0.05). In women, total femur (R2 = 0.466, p < 0.05), lumbar (R2 = 0.316, p < 0.05), pelvis (R2 = 0.343, p < 0.05), and lower leg BMD (R2 = 0.133, p < 0.05) were associated with the severity of KL grade. When the BMD was divided into quartiles, lumbar (p < 0.05) and pelvis BMD (p < 0.05) in men had statistically significant association with knee OA as BMD decreased. In women, femur neck (p < 0.05) and lumbar BMD (p < 0.05) were significantly associated with knee OA as BMD increased. The relationship between BMD and OA severity varied according to sex. In women, there was a positive association between femur neck and lumbar BMD and OA, while BMD of the lumbar and pelvis in men was negatively correlated with OA. Cohort study, III.

The association of plasma fatty acids with hand and knee osteoarthritis: the NEO study

To investigate the association of postprandial and fasting plasma saturated fatty acid (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFAs) concentrations with hand and knee osteoarthritis (OA). In the population-based NEO study clinical hand and knee OA were defined by the ACR classification criteria. Structural knee OA was defined on MRI. Hand and knee pain was determined by Australian/Canadian Hand Osteoarthritis Index (AUSCAN) and KOOS, respectively. Plasma was sampled fasted and 150min after a standardized meal, and subsequently analysed using a nuclear magnetic resonance platform. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association of total fatty acid, SFA, MUFA, total PUFA, omega-3 PUFA and omega-6 PUFA concentrations with clinical hand and knee OA, structural knee OA and hand and knee pain. Fatty acid concentrations were standardized (mean 0, SD 1). Analyses were stratified by sex and corrected for age, education, ethnicity and total body fat percentage. Of the 5,328 participants (mean age 56 years, 58% women) 7% was classified with hand OA, 10% with knee OA and 4% with concurrent hand and knee OA. In men, postprandial SFAs (OR (95% CI)) 1.23 (1.00; 1.50), total PUFAs 1.26 (1.00; 1.58) and omega-3 PUFAs 1.24 (1.01; 1.52) were associated with hand OA. SFAs and PUFAs were associated with structural, but not clinical knee OA. Association of fasting fatty acid concentrations were weaker than postprandial concentrations. Plasma postprandial SFA and PUFA levels were positively associated with clinical hand and structural knee OA in men, but not in women.

Modifiable factors associated with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: The Murakami cohort study

ObjectivesModifiable risk factors for knee osteoarthritis (OA) have not been studied in detail. This study aimed to determine lifestyle-related modifiable factors of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis in an East Asian population. Study designThis 5-year cohort study involved 11,091 individuals (age range 40–72 years) living in the Murakami region of Niigata, Japan, who did not have a history of knee OA. At baseline, information on sociodemographic characteristics, body size, lifestyle, and living condition was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Main outcome measuresIncident symptomatic knee OA observed at hospitals and orthopaedic clinics in the five years to 2016. Clinical grades of knee OA were based on the Kellgren-Lawrence scale. P for trend was assessed to examine linear associations between predictors and the outcome in multiple logistic regression analysis. ResultsThe mean age of participants was 58.1 (SD 9.3) years. The number of cases of grade 2 or more incident knee OA was 429. In men, older age (P for trend < 0.0001), higher BMI (P for trend < 0.0001), higher METs score (P for trend = 0.0150), less smoking (P for trend = 0.0249), and lower green tea consumption (P for trend = 0.0437) were associated with incident knee OA. In women, older age (P for trend < 0.0001), higher BMI (P for trend < 0.0001), and alcohol consumption (P = 0.0153) were associated with incident knee OA. ConclusionsSeveral lifestyle-related factors were found to be associated with incident knee OA and exhibited sex-dependent differences. In particular, higher consumption of green tea was associated with a lower incidence of knee OA in men.

Association of ADAM 12 polymorphisms with the risk of knee osteoarthritis: meta-analysis of 5048 cases and 6848 controls.

Several studies have suggested the association between ADAM 12 polymorphisms and the risk of osteoarthritis (OA), but the results remained controversial. Therefore, we designed a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the association on this issue. A literature search for eligible studies was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases. The association between ADAM 12 polymorphisms and knee OA risk was calculated by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Study heterogeneity, sensitivity and publication bias analyses were also conducted. Ten articles covering 5048 cases and 6848 controls met our criteria for the final analysis. We found that the rs1871054 was significantly associated with the risk of knee OA (allele model OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.43-2.07, P<0.001; additive model: OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.19-3.56, P=0.010; dominant model: OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.85-3.25, P<0.001; recessive model: OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.13-2.10, P=0.007). rs1044122 was significantly associated with knee OA susceptibility in recessive model (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.03-2.04, P=0.031). For rs3740199 and rs1278279, no significant associations with knee OA were found. In the stratified analysis by gender, significant association was identified with the risk of knee OA for rs3740199 in men in allele model (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.51-3.84, P<0.001), dominant model (OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.17-6.14, P=0.02) and recessive model (OR 3.51, 95% CI 1.68-7.36, P=0.001), but not for additive model (OR 1.30, 95% CI 0.81-2.08, P=0.28). This meta-analysis suggests that the ADAM 12 genetic polymorphisms rs1871054 and rs1044122 might be associated with risk of knee OA; rs3740199 might be associated with risk of knee OA in men. Further well-designed and large scale studies are warranted to validate these associations.

Body composition is more closely related to the development of knee osteoarthritis in women than men: a cross-sectional study using the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-1, 2)

To evaluate the association between knee osteoarthritis (OA) and body composition parameters, and to analyze the correlations of both obesity and lower extremity muscle mass with radiographic knee OA in relation to sex. This was a cross-sectional study using data on body composition parameters measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in 4246 participants in the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The relationships between knee OA and body composition parameters were evaluated. The associations between knee OA and the four subgroups corresponding to obesity and muscle mass percentage in both lower extremities were analyzed separately for each sex. The lower extremity muscle mass showed a decreasing trend, while fat parameters showed an increasing linear trend (P for trend <0.05) with increasing severity of knee OA in women. The odds ratio of each quarter percentile group (25 percentile) for fat parameters showed an increasing trend, while that of the lower extremity muscle mass showed a decreasing linear trend in relation to knee OA in women (P for trend<0.05). In women, low percentage of lower extremity muscle mass was more associated with knee OA regardless of obesity (P<0.05). However, there were no associations between all body composition parameters and knee OA in men. In women, high fat mass and low lower extremity muscle mass were associated with presence and severity of knee OA. Lower extremity muscle mass was more closely correlated with knee OA than obesity in women.

Do knee osteoarthritis and fat-free mass interact in their impact on health-related quality of life in men? Results from a population-based cohort.

To investigate whether obesity and other risk factors interact with knee osteoarthritis (OA) in its adverse impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). In 1,262 participants of the Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity Study, a population-based cohort (age 45-65 years, 53% women, and median body mass index [BMI] 27 kg/m(2) ), knee OA was defined following modified American College of Rheumatology criteria. BMI and fat-free mass (as proxy for muscle mass) were assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis, and comorbidities by self-report. HRQOL was assessed using the Short Form 36 physical component summary (PCS) score. Linear regression analyses were performed to examine associations between knee OA and PCS score, adjusting for age and sex and stratified for BMI, fat-free mass, and comorbidities. Knee OA (prevalence 16%) was associated with a 7.2-points lower PCS score (95% confidence interval -9.5, -4.8). PCS score was also negatively associated with obesity and comorbidities; however, no interaction with knee OA was seen. Low fat-free mass was associated with a lower PCS score and interacted with knee OA in men. Interaction between concurring OA and low fat-free mass attributed to 64% of the decrease in PCS score, as compared with men without OA and with high fat-free mass. Knee OA was associated with a lower HRQOL, as were its risk factors, obesity, comorbidities, and low fat-free mass. In men, fat-free mass interacted with knee OA, leading to an additional decrease of HRQOL in the case of concurrence. Especially in the former, improvement of fat-free mass may improve HRQOL in knee OA patients.

Association between the lower serum PIICP level and the joint space narrowing on the asymptomatic knee OSTEOARTHRITIS IN MEN IN EARLY FORTIES

Association between the lower serum PIICP level and the joint space narrowing on the asymptomatic knee OSTEOARTHRITIS IN MEN IN EARLY FORTIES

The role of fat mass and skeletal muscle mass in knee osteoarthritis is different for men and women: the NEO study

To investigate if the amount of fat mass (FM) or skeletal muscle mass (SMM) is more strongly associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA), in both men and women. The Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity (NEO) study is a population-based cohort aged 45-65 years, including 5313 participants (53% female, median body mass index (BMI) 29.9 kg/m(2)). FM (kg), fat percentage, SMM (kg) and skeletal muscle (SM) percentage were estimated using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Clinical OA was defined following the ACR criteria. Structural OA was defined based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 1142 participants. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations of all body composition measures with clinical and structural knee OA per standard deviation (SD), stratified by sex and adjusted for age and height. Clinical or structural OA was present in 25% and 14% of women and 12% and 13% of men, respectively. FM and fat percentage were positively associated with clinical knee OA in men and women. SMM was positively associated, while the SM percentage was negatively associated with clinical OA in both men and women. The FM/SMM ratio was positively associated with clinical OA. All determinants showed even stronger ORs for structural knee OA. In men, SMM was more strongly associated with knee OA as compared to FM whereas in women, FM was most strongly associated. Especially a high FM/SMM ratio seems to be unfavorable in knee OA. In men, SMM is most strongly associated with knee OA whereas in women FM seems to be of most importance.

Cumulative years in occupation and the risk of hip or knee osteoarthritis in men and women: a register-based follow-up study

ObjectivesOccupational workload has been associated with an increased risk of osteoarthritis (OA), but only little research has been conducted among female workers. The objective of this study was to analyse...

Prevalence of the Pro12Ala missense mutation in the PPARG2 gene in Kuwaiti patients with primary knee osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Peroxisome proliferator–activated receptors (PPARs) play an important role in a number of cellular and metabolic functions. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of a missense mutation (Pro12Ala) in the PPARG2 gene in Kuwaiti Arab patients with primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) and healthy controls with the aim of identifying a possible association.DESIGN AND SETTING:A prospective cross-sectional study carried out at three major teaching hospitals (referral centers) in the country over a one-year period.PATIENTS AND METHODS:The prevalence of PPARG2 gene Pro12Ala missense mutation was determined in 104 Kuwaiti Arab patients with primary knee OA and 111 ethnically matched healthy controls. The prevalence of this Pro12Ala missense mutation was also determined in clinical subgroups of OA patients divided on the basis of age at onset, function and radiologic grading.RESULTSThe Pro-Pro genotype of the PPARG2 gene Pro12Ala missense mutation was detected in 95/104 (91.3%) cases compared to 111/111 (100%) in the control subjects. The heterozygous Pro-Ala genotype was detected in 9/104 (8.7%) of the OA patients, while it was not detected in any of the controls. The Ala-Ala genotype was not detected in any of the OA patients or the controls. No significant differences were detected in the PPARG2 gene Pro12Ala genotypes in the subgroups of patients classified on the basis of age at onset, functional assessment using Lequesne’s functional index, and radiological grading using Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grading.CONCLUSIONSThis study found no significant association between the PPARG2 gene Pro12Ala missense mutation and knee OA. However, the presence of the Pro-Pro genotype of the PPARG2 gene mutation has a protective effect against development of OA.

Individual and occupational risk factors for knee osteoarthritis: results of a case-control study in Germany.

IntroductionA number of occupational risk factors are discussed in relation to the development and progress of knee joint diseases (for example, working in a kneeling or squatting posture, lifting and carrying heavy weights). Besides the occupational factors, a number of individual risk factors are important. The distinction between work-related and other factors is crucial in assessing the risk and in deriving preventive measures in occupational health.MethodsIn a case-control study, patients with and without symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) were questioned by means of a standardised questionnaire complemented by a semi-standardised interview. Controls were matched and assigned to the cases by gender and age. Conditional logistic regression was used in analysing data.ResultsIn total, 739 cases and 571 controls were included in the study. In women and men, several individual and occupational predictors for knee OA could be described: obesity (odds ratio (OR) up to 17.65 in women and up to 12.56 in men); kneeling/squatting (women, OR 2.52 (>8,934 hours/life); men, 2.16 (574 to 12,244 hours/life), 2.47 (>12,244 hours/life)); genetic predisposition (women, OR 2.17; men, OR 2.37); and sports with a risk of unapparent trauma (women, OR 2.47 (≥1,440 hours/life); men, 2.58 (≥3,232 hours/life)). In women, malalignment of the knee (OR 11.54), pain in the knee already in childhood (OR 2.08), and the daily lifting and carrying of loads (≥1,088 tons/life, OR 2.13) were related to an increased OR; sitting and smoking led to a reduced OR.ConclusionsThe results support a dose-response relationship between kneeling/squatting and symptomatic knee OA in men and, for the first time, in women. The results concerning general and occupational predictors for knee OA reflect the findings from the literature quite well. Yet occupational risks such as jumping or climbing stairs/ladders, as discussed in the literature, did not correlate with symptomatic knee OA in the present study. With regards to occupational health, prevention measures should focus on the reduction of kneeling activities and the lifting and carrying of loads as well as general risk factors, most notably the reduction of obesity. More intervention studies of the effectiveness of tools and working methods for reducing knee straining activities are needed.

Progress of research in osteoarthritis. Epidemiolgy of osteoarthritis in Japanese population. ~ The ROAD study ~

To clarify the prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) and osteoporosis (OP) and estimate the number of people with these conditions in Japan, we conducted a large-scale population-based cohort study entitled "Research on Osteoarthritis Against Disability (ROAD)". From the baseline data of the ROAD study, we found that the prevalence of knee OA in men and women was 42.0% and 61.5%, respectively, and that of lumbar OA was 80.6% and 61.5%, respectively. The estimated number of Japanese patients with knee OA and lumbar OA was approximately 25 million and 38 million, respectively.

Sex and ethnic differences in the association of ASPN, CALM1, COL2A1, COMP, and FRZB with genetic susceptibility to osteoarthritis of the knee

To assess whether the association of genetic polymorphisms with osteoarthritis (OA) in other populations could be replicated in a large, multicenter, mixed-sex, case-control study of clinical knee OA. Genetic polymorphisms in OA candidate genes were genotyped in 298 men and 305 women, ages 50-86 years, all of whom had a diagnosis of knee OA as assessed clinically and radiographically, and in 300 male and 299 female control subjects matched for age and ethnicity. Allele and haplotype frequencies for 5 genes (ASPN, CALM1, COL2A1, COMP, and FRZB) previously tested for association with hip and/or knee OA in other populations were compared between patients and control subjects, analyzing men and women separately. The same FRZB 2-marker single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) haplotype associated with hip OA in other populations of Caucasian women was shown to increase the risk of knee OA among the women (but not the men) in the current study (odds ratio [OR] 2.87, P < 0.04). The CALM1 SNP, which affects the risk of hip OA in Japanese individuals, was not shown to be associated with susceptibility to OA in men or women. COL2A1 haplotypes were demonstrated to be associated with a decreased risk of knee OA in men (OR 0.68, P < 0.005) but not in women. COMP haplotypes that were associated with susceptibility to knee OA were different in men and women (P < 0.014 and P < 0.032, respectively). A meta-analysis of these data and those from previously published reports indicated a strong association between the FRZB G324 allele (P < 0.0003) and suggested that an ASPN allele is protective against the risk of knee OA in Caucasians (P < 0.02). Our results indicate that genetic polymorphisms affecting knee OA vary between populations (Japanese versus Caucasian) and sexes and indicate a role for ASPN, COMP, FRZB, and COL2A1 in Caucasians.

Risk factors for knee osteoarthritis in Japanese men: a case-control study

Risk of knee osteoarthritis (OA) was assessed in a population-based case-control study of Japanese men. The study covered three health districts in Wakayama and Osaka prefectures, Japan. Subjects were male individuals ≥45 years old diagnosed radiographically with knee OA, and who did not display any established causes of secondary OA. Controls selected randomly from the general population were individually matched to cases for age, sex, and residential district. Subjects were interviewed using structured questionnaires to determine medical history, physical activity, socio-economic factors, and occupation. Interviews were obtained from 37 cases and 37 controls. In univariate analysis, heaviest weight in the past and physical work such as factory, construction, agricultural, or fishery work as the principal occupation significantly raised the risk of male knee OA (P < 0.05). Odds ratios (OR) were determined using conditional logistic regression analysis mutually adjusted for potential risk factors using the results of univariate analysis. Heaviest weight in the past (OR 6.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18–30.5, P < 0.05), past knee injury (OR 6.25, 95% CI 1.13–34.5, P < 0.05), and physical work as the principal occupation (OR 6.20, 95% CI 1.40–27.5, P < 0.05) represented independent factors associated with knee OA after controlling for other risk factors. Physical work is associated with knee OA, demonstrating the influence of working activity on the development of OA. The present study suggests that risk factors for knee OA in men resemble those in women.

Risk factors for knee osteoarthritis in Japanese men: a case-control study

Risk of knee osteoarthritis (OA) was assessed in a population-based case-control study of Japanese men. The study covered three health districts in Wakayama and Osaka prefectures, Japan. Subjects were male individuals >or=45 years old diagnosed radiographically with knee OA, and who did not display any established causes of secondary OA. Controls selected randomly from the general population were individually matched to cases for age, sex, and residential district. Subjects were interviewed using structured questionnaires to determine medical history, physical activity, socio-economic factors, and occupation. Interviews were obtained from 37 cases and 37 controls. In univariate analysis, heaviest weight in the past and physical work such as factory, construction, agricultural, or fishery work as the principal occupation significantly raised the risk of male knee OA (P<0.05). Odds ratios (OR) were determined using conditional logistic regression analysis mutually adjusted for potential risk factors using the results of univariate analysis. Heaviest weight in the past (OR 6.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18-30.5, P<0.05), past knee injury (OR 6.25, 95% CI 1.13-34.5, P<0.05), and physical work as the principal occupation (OR 6.20, 95% CI 1.40-27.5, P<0.05) represented independent factors associated with knee OA after controlling for other risk factors. Physical work is associated with knee OA, demonstrating the influence of working activity on the development of OA. The present study suggests that risk factors for knee OA in men resemble those in women.

Reproducible genetic associations between candidate genes and clinical knee osteoarthritis in men and women

Osteoarthritis (OA) is recognized to have a genetic component, and in this study, we aimed to replicate in a case-control study of men and women with clinical knee OA genetic associations in 12 candidate genes previously reported to be associated with OA. Twenty-five single-nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped in 298 men and 305 women ages 50-86 who were diagnosed as having knee OA, as assessed both clinically and radiographically, and in 297 men and 299 women matched for age and ethnicity (controls). Standardized anteroposterior radiographs of the knee in extension were performed on each of the cases, and all cases met the American College of Rheumatology criteria for OA of the knee. Genotype and haplotype frequencies in cases and controls were compared separately in men and women. The 12 genes tested were AACT, ADAM12, BMP2, CD36, CILP, COX2, ESR1, NCOR2, OPG, TNA, TNFAIP6, and VDR. Eight of the candidate genes were associated in women and 5 in men, and only 3 genes (TNFAIP6, NCOR2, and CD36) were not significantly associated in either sex. The strongest associations in terms of odds ratios (ORs) were a haplotype in ADAM12 (OR 7.1 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 3.3-33.8]) and a haplotype in ESR1 (OR 3.6 [95% CI 1.18-10.98]) in women. The same ADAM12 haplotype (OR 2.54 [95% CI 1.2-5.4]) and a haplotype in the CILP gene (OR 0.38 [95% CI 0.23-0.62]) were the strongest associations in men. We found that genes previously identified by their association with subclinical features of knee OA or progression were also associated with clinical knee OA. These genetic associations may identify individuals at a particularly high risk of developing knee OA.

Waist Size May Predict Knee Osteoarthritis in Men

Waist Size May Predict Knee Osteoarthritis in Men

Association of radiographically evident osteoarthritis with higher bone mineral density and increased bone loss with age. The rotterdam study

To investigate the relationship of osteoarthritis (OA) to bone mineral density (BMD) and rate of bone loss. The study group consisted of 2,745 persons (1,624 women) from the general elderly population. Disability was assessed by the Health Assessment Questionnaire. Femoral neck BMD was measured at baseline and, in 1,723 subjects, after 2 years of followup. Knee and hip radiographic OA was assessed on anteroposterior radiographs. With the exception of knee radiographic OA in men, radiographic OA was associated with significantly increased BMD (3-8%). BMD increased significantly according to the number of affected sites and the Kellgren score. Radiographic OA was also associated with significantly elevated bone loss with age (in men, only for radiographic OA of the hip). A significant increase in relation to the number of affected sites and the Kellgren score (except with regard to knee OA in men) was found, independent of disability. Radiographic OA is associated with high BMD and increased rate of bone loss. This suggests a more pronounced difference in BMD earlier in life.

Estrogen and osteoarthritis: A study of synovial estradiol and estradiol receptor binding in human osteoarthritic knees

Estrogen appears to be a risk factor in knee osteoarthritis (OA). Results from 21 patients revealed that synovial estradiol level was highly related to the severity of OA. Increased estradiol receptor bindings in the medial compartment of the femoral condylar and tibia plateau cartilages were observed; the increase was significantly higher in the medial than in the lateral compartment (p less than 0.05). Although the synovial estradiol level was significantly lower in women with OA than in men with OA (p less than 0.01), postmenopausal women were hypothesized to be more susceptible to OA, since the possible existence of synovial testosterone might counteract the high estradiol synovial level in men, which results in a lower incidence of knee OA in men than in postmenopausal women. We suggest that excessive synovial estradiol and higher estradiol receptor bindings may be involved in the development of knee OA, particularly in postmenopausal women.