Cross-sectional comparison of synovial fluid biochemical markers in equine osteoarthritis and the correlation of these markers with articular cartilage damage.
Abstract: To investigate the relationship between biochemical markers in the synovial fluid of osteoarthritic and contralateral equine joints and gross articular cartilage pathology. Methods: Twenty-two horses underwent bilateral arthroscopy of their carpal or metacarpophalangeal joints following recent onset lameness. The degree of cartilage damage in each joint was scored and synovial fluid, from both the clinically affected and the contralateral joint, was collected. Bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), 5D4 epitope of keratan sulphate (KS), total glycosaminoglycans (GAG) and hyaluronan (HA) were measured. Results: The mean age of the horses was 4.1 years and the maximum duration of lameness was three months. Joints examined were midcarpal, antebrachiocarpal and metacarpophalangeal. The median concentration (semi-interquartile range) of BAP was significantly higher in the clinically active joint than in the contralateral joint, 21.75 (6.22) vs. 12.35 (4.07) units, while the other biomarkers measured were significantly lower in the clinically active joint than in the contralateral joint, i.e. KS 8.79 (1.96) microg/ml vs. 16.39 (5.65) microg/ml, KS:GAG ratio 0.19 (0.04) vs. 0.31 (0.10) and HA 741.6 (222) microg/ml vs. 1061.75 (325) microg/ml. BAP was positively (R=0.57), and KS (R=-0.57) and KS:GAG ratio (R=-0.49) were negatively correlated to the degree of cartilage damage within the joint. Conclusions: The correlation between articular cartilage damage and synovial fluid BAP and KS imparts validity to their potential use as non-invasive diagnostic aids in equine osteoarthritis (OA). The positive correlation between BAP and cartilage damage suggests that there is a link between bone turnover and cartilage damage in OA.
Publication Date: 2001-02-17 PubMed ID: 11178947DOI: 10.1053/joca.2000.0349Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article investigates the relationship between certain biochemical markers found in the synovial fluid of horses with osteoarthritis and the extent of damage to their articular cartilage. Results indicate a potential use for these biochemical markers as non-invasive diagnostic aids for equine osteoarthritis.
Methods and Participants
- The study involved 22 horses that had recent onset of joint-related lameness. They underwent bilateral arthroscopy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure for the examination and treatment of joints, specifically targeting their carpal or metacarpophalangeal joints.
- The degree of damage to the horse’s cartilage was assessed and given a score. Then synovial fluid was collected from both the affected joint and its healthy opposite counterpart.
- The collected synovial fluid was tested for the presence and concentration of certain biochemical markers – Bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), 5D4 epitope of keratan sulphate (KS), total glycosaminoglycans (GAG), and hyaluronan (HA).
Results and Findings
- The study found that the concentration of BAP was significantly higher in the clinically active, or affected, joint than in the contralateral joint.
- Other biomarkers – KS, the ratio of KS to GAG, and HA – had lower concentrations in the affected joint than in the healthy one.
- BAP had a positive correlation with the degree of cartilage damage in the joint meaning as BAP levels increased, so did the severity of cartilage damage.
- The KS and KS to GAG ratio were negatively correlated to the degree of cartilage damage – as these markers decreased, the severity of the damage increased.
Conclusions
- The correlation between the severity of articular cartilage damage and the concentration of synovial fluid BAP and KS markers provides evidence supporting their potential use as non-invasive diagnostic tools for equine osteoarthritis.
- The positive correlation between BAP levels and cartilage damage suggests a possible connection between bone turnover, the process of bone resorption followed by the formation of new bone, and the occurrence and progression of cartilage damage in osteoarthritis.
Cite This Article
APA
Fuller CJ, Barr AR, Sharif M, Dieppe PA.
(2001).
Cross-sectional comparison of synovial fluid biochemical markers in equine osteoarthritis and the correlation of these markers with articular cartilage damage.
Osteoarthritis Cartilage, 9(1), 49-55.
https://doi.org/10.1053/joca.2000.0349 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Dept of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, UK. C.J.Fuller@bris.ac.uk
MeSH Terms
- Alkaline Phosphatase / metabolism
- Animals
- Biomarkers / chemistry
- Cartilage, Articular / chemistry
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Glycosaminoglycans / metabolism
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horses
- Hyaluronic Acid / metabolism
- Keratan Sulfate / metabolism
- Osteoarthritis / diagnosis
- Synovial Fluid / chemistry
Citations
This article has been cited 15 times.- Mustonen AM, Lehmonen N, Paakkonen T, Raekallio M, Käkelä R, Niemelä T, Mykkänen A, Sihvo SP, Nieminen P. Equine osteoarthritis modifies fatty acid signatures in synovial fluid and its extracellular vesicles.. Arthritis Res Ther 2023 Mar 9;25(1):39.
- Mustonen AM, Lehmonen N, Oikari S, Capra J, Raekallio M, Mykkänen A, Paakkonen T, Rilla K, Niemelä T, Nieminen P. Counts of hyaluronic acid-containing extracellular vesicles decrease in naturally occurring equine osteoarthritis.. Sci Rep 2022 Oct 20;12(1):17550.
- Park HM, Lee JH, Lee YJ. Positive Association of Serum Alkaline Phosphatase Level with Severe Knee Osteoarthritis: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.. Diagnostics (Basel) 2020 Nov 27;10(12).
- Ma TW, Li Y, Wang GY, Li XR, Jiang RL, Song XP, Zhang ZH, Bai H, Li X, Gao L. Changes in Synovial Fluid Biomarkers after Experimental Equine Osteoarthritis.. J Vet Res 2017 Dec;61(4):503-508.
- Vendruscolo CDP, Moreira JJ, Seidel SRT, Fülber J, Neuenschwander HM, Bonagura G, Agreste FR, Baccarin RYA. Effects of medical ozone upon healthy equine joints: Clinical and laboratorial aspects.. PLoS One 2018;13(5):e0197736.
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- Antonacci JM, Schmidt TA, Serventi LA, Cai MZ, Shu YL, Schumacher BL, McIlwraith CW, Sah RL. Effects of equine joint injury on boundary lubrication of articular cartilage by synovial fluid: role of hyaluronan.. Arthritis Rheum 2012 Sep;64(9):2917-26.
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- Nganvongpanit K, Pothacharoen P, Chaochird P, Klunklin K, Warrit K, Settakorn J, Pattamapaspong N, Luevitoonvechkij S, Arpornchayanon O, Kongtawelert P, Pruksakorn D. Prospective evaluation of serum biomarker levels and cartilage repair by autologous chondrocyte transplantation and subchondral drilling in a canine model.. Arthritis Res Ther 2009;11(3):R78.
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