Study: C-Reactive Protein May Be Helpful in Predicting Course of Osteoarthritis

Already a strong indicator of the risk of heart disease, C-reactive protein may also be helpful in predicting the course of osteoarthritis, according to a study in the February issue of the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.

Although osteoarthritis is thought to occur due to defective chondrocyte metabolism, interest is rising in C-reactive protein and its involvement in osteoarthritis.

Researchers from the University of Ulm in Germany assessed the association between high sensitivity C reactive protein and the severity and extent of hip and knee osteoarthritis in patients in advanced stages of the disease.

To do this, the researchers measured this protein in the frozen serum samples of 770 osteoarthritis patients who had undergone hip or knee joint replacement. They also took into account the patient's pain scores and the extent of their osteoarthritis in various joints.

The researchers found an association between the severity of pain and high sensitivity C-reactive protein, but not the extent of osteoarthritis.

The researchers concluded that more studies are needed with repeated assessments of high sensitivity C-reactive protein and pain to determine the possible value of using this protein for monitoring or predicting the course of osteoarthritis.

Other Sources: Annals of Rheumatic Diseases 2004 Feb;63(2):200-5