A study on hyaluronic acid levels predicting the progression of osteoarthritis / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the predictive value of serum hyaluronic acid (HA) levels for morphological progression of osteoarthritis (OA).Methods Seventy New Zealand white rabbits were randomly and equally divided into the OA group and the normal control group.OA was induced by injecting 0.5 ml of 2％ papain into the left knee joints and the same volume of sterile saline solution was injected Into right knee joints in control group.The serum HA levels were detected at 1,2,4,6,8,10 and 12 weeks after injection.Then magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and pathohistological changes were observed.T test was used for the analysis of measurment.Resuts Compared with the control group,degeneration changes were found in the OA group,such as thinner articular cartilage,fibrillation and destroyed cartilage matrix,and inflammation,proliferation and degeneration of the synovial tissue.All these changes were much worse with prolonged observation time.The serum HA levels were increased [12 week(657±132) ng/ml,vs (166±8) ng/ml],which correlate with structural damage.Conclusion Serum HA levels had a predictive value for further development of OA.