OA Biomarkers Network: A New Way to Study Disintegrating Joints

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OA Biomarkers Network: A New Way to Study Disintegrating Joints

http://www.niams.nih.gov/ne/highlights/spotlight/2004/oa_biomarkers.htm

To hasten the pace of discovery of molecular biomarkers for osteoarthritis

(OA), the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin

Diseases (NIAMS) has established the Osteoarthritis Biomarkers Network: five

institutions in the United States and Sweden received grants totaling $4.6

million over 5 years. ...

Currently, OA is diagnosed through a series of assessments, including a

medical history, physical exams and laboratory tests. The disease is

confirmed when a radiographic image (e.g., x ray) shows narrowed joint space

due to cartilage loss, bony spurs, or cysts that may be seen in a bone just

beneath the joint surfaces. X rays are also used to monitor disease

progression; however, they are not as reliable as molecular biomarkers are

thought to be. Images from x rays cannot show small changes in the joint, so

it may take from one to three years for joint deterioration to be detected.

With the use of sensitive assays to recognize biomarkers in body fluids,

researchers could identify early signs of disease and standardize measures

of progression, which could then increase the predictive power needed for

clinical trials of new treatments.

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