Hyaluronic acid levels may have predictive value for the progression of knee osteoarthritis

Abstract Study objectives: To study prognostic value of different biochemical markers for morphological progression of early knee osteoarthritis. Design: A total of 89 patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) were enroled into the study. The follow-up period was 2 years. Radiological OA progression was evaluated by measuring joint spacewidth. Pentosidinewas detected using the HPLC method described earlier, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein(COMP) using the method published by our team. MMP-9, tissue inhibitorsof metalloproteinases(TIMP), YKL-40 and hyaluronic acidwere detected using commercially available kits. Results: In the group of patients suffering from knee OA, higher serum levels of pentosidine( P =0.04), MMP-9 ( P =0.02), TIMP ( P =0.04) and COMP ( P =0.05) were detected compared with healthy control subjects. Using a correlation analysis method, it has been found that the patients with higher basic serum levels of hyaluronic acidhad a faster radiological progression ( r =0.56, P r =0.30, P Conclusions: In our study, serum levels of hyaluronic acidand pentosidinehad a predictive value for further development of knee OA in that further joint space narrowingwas detected in the patients with knee OA in the next 2 years.