Role f estradiol in knee osteoarthritis of non-menopausal women

Abstract EN

Objectives: to investigate the relationship between the level of estradiol in non menopausal women, with knee osteoarthritis (O.A), and the clinical and radiological parameters of disease severity.

Methodology: This study comprised 36 non menopausal female patients with knee osteoarthritis diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria for primary knee OA.

Ten healthy females matched for age served as a control group.

All patients underwent clinical evaluation of disease symptoms and signs.

Pain was visual analogue scale (VAS).

Standard radiographs of knee joints were classified according to Kellgren/Lawrence score (K/L score).

Blood samples were obtained from patients and controls for ELICA quantitative determination of serum levels of 17-beta estradiol (E2).

Results: The mean VAS score was 6.17+1.23.

According to K/L score, only three patients (8.3%) were of grade 2, twenty one patients (58.3%) were of grade 3 whereas twelve patients (33.3%) had grade 4 affection of the knee.

The mean level of serum E2 in patients was 45.57+19.04 pg/ml while that of the control group was 80.4+2.79pg/ml.

These results proved that serum levels of E2 showed a highly significant decrease among osteoarthritic patients compared to control levels.

Patients with positive effusion, deformity, limitation of range of motion and muscle wasting showed significantly lower levels of serum E2.

There was a negative significant correlation between serum levels of E2 and both of the VAS and K/L score.

Conclusions: It was concluded that non-menopausal patients with knee osteoarthritis have low serum estradiol which can be considered as a marker of clinical and radiological severity.