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Background Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) is a persistent debilitating disease characterized by loss of articular cartilage. Known to be a disease of elderly, it may not be necessarily so, as the loss in articular cartilage volume (ACV) begins early but detected very late on X-rays and by that time no therapy works and joint replacement is the only answer. Objectives To determine the role of ACV in early diagnosis of KOA, which may not only monitor disease progression from a very early stage, it may also open a gateway to slow down or stop the structural changes involved in KOA. Methods 60 Cases and equal number of age, sex matched controls were recruited. Each subject had MRI of the reference knee. ACV was measured manually by means of image processing on an independent workstation using semi-automated machine GE Signa. VAS for knee pain and WOMAC for pain, stiffness and disability were recorded for clinical severity and X-rays for radiological severity by KL grading. Results With age, a statistically significant inverse correlation of ACV was found in both healthy and osteoarthritis knees. Height, weight and BMI were independent of ACV in healthy knee. In KOA, a significant positive correlation of ACV was observed with height, a significant inverse correlation with WOMAC scores and significant difference with sub- scales of WOMAC index (pain, stiffness and physical function). The statistical difference in ACV between the two categories of WOMAC scores ( 32) was significant. Conclusion This study concluded that ACV is significantly lower in osteoarthritis knee as compared to healthy adult knee. This study also found that KOA in females occurs at an early age and progresses slowly whereas in males occurs late and progresses rapidly. ACV may become one of the most promising tools for early diagnosis of KOA and in monitoring disease progression. Reference [1] Beary JF III. Joint structure modification in osteoarthritis: development of SMOAD drugs. CurrRheumatol Rep2001;3:506-512. Disclosure of Interests None declared |
