Deoxypyridinoline crosslinks as a marker of disease severity vs radiography in knee osteoarthritis

Abstract EN

Objectives: Detection of urinary deoxypyridinoline level in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and controls and assess its potential usefulness as a marker of disease severity against the radiographic findings.

Methods: Sixty-four female patients with symptomatic bilateral knee OA were compared with 50 randomly selected normal females.

They were subjected to clinical examination as well as height and weight assessment.

Anteroposterior and lateral weight bearing, in addition to sky view x-rays of both knees were taken and graded according to Kellgren and Lawrence as well as Spector et al.

Scoring Systems.

Deoxypyridinoline was measured in morning fasting urine.

Results: OA patients had higher B.M.I.

(p < 0.007) and higher levels of deoxypyridinoline crosslinks (p < 0.001).

The latter correlated significantly with x-ray grades based on Spector et al.

scoring system in all patients.

These correlations stayed the same after adjustment for age and weight.

Conclusion: Bone, cartilage and synovium contribute to urinary excretion of deoxypyridinoline crosslinks in patients with OA.

Deoxypyridinoline measurement was found to be a useful marker that reflects the severity of Knee OA as measured radiographically.