Experts discover a new predictor of knee osteoarthritis progression

A new way of predicting the progression of knee osteoarthritis may soon be available thanks to a study published in Arthritis Research & Therapy.

We know that concentration of serum hyaluronic acid is raised in people with knee osteoarthritis but until now its relationship with disease progression has been unclear.

So a team studied 444 people with knee osteoarthritis in 444 people for five years. Serum hyaluronic acid levels were measured at the start of the study and X-rays of the knee were taken.

Higher serum hyaluronic acid concentrations were correlated with progression of knee osteoarthritis and joint space narrowing in knees with and without osteoarthritis.

“Serum hyaluronic acid concentration may be a useful predictor of knee osteoarthritis progression,” the researchers conclude.

Click here to read the original research.

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Image credit: sophie & cie