Oxford and Pfizer to Develop POC Tests

A new study shows a strong association between high levels of hyaluronic acid (HA) and severe osteoarthritis (OA) of the knees and hips. This finding may aid early intervention, before joint destruction can be seen on an x-ray, and improve outcomes. The finding was reported in the January 2005 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.

The study involved 753 subjects: 120 African-American men, 245 African-American women, 199 Caucasian men, and 189 Caucasian women. The average age of participants was about 62 and the mean body mass index was on the heavy side, just over 30. Of all the subjects, 455 had mild-to-severe knee OA, confirmed by radiographs. Of these, 152 also had hip OA, and in 52 of these, the disease had progressed to both knees and both hips.

Blood samples showed that Caucasians had higher serum HA levels than African-Americans, and men had higher serum levels than women. The biggest differences in HA levels, however, were between the 298 subjects without any radiographic evidence of OA and the 455 with mild-to-severe disease, especially those with two or more joints affected. As the presence and amount of OA involvement increased, so did the HA levels.

On average, the concentration of HA was higher in patients with two diseased knees compared to those with a single diseased knee, and higher in patients with hip OA in addition to knee OA. No other correlations between elevated levels of HA and other adverse health conditions were found except for gout, which is marked by inflammation and damage just as OA is. HA is a component of connective tissue that is widely distributed throughout the body and plays an important role in joint function.

"The results of this study suggest that serum HA measurements are useful for assessing overall OA load,” remarked Dr. Alan Elliott, one of the study's researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA). "The lack of independent associations of serum HA levels with several comorbid conditions commonly associated with OA further supports its promise in the study of OA.”




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