Current location:opinions >>
Blood test could detect osteoarthritis in the knees eight years before it appears on X
opinions91423People have gathered around
IntroductionA blood test could detect osteoarthritis in the knees up to eight years before it appears on X-rays ...
A blood test could detect osteoarthritis in the knees up to eight years before it appears on X-rays – leading to hopes for a preventative treatment.
The condition – thought to affect more than five million people in the UK – occurs when cartilage in the knee joint breaks down, causing it to become painful and stiff.
The disease is usually not found until it has already caused structural damage to the joint.
Surgery has been the only option available for many, with more than 120,000 knee replacements performed in the UK each year.
But the new test, which can spot the condition years in advance, could provide a 'window of opportunity' to restore joint health.
A blood test could detect osteoarthritis in the knees up to eight years before it appears on X-rays – leading to hopes for a preventative treatment (stock image)
But the new test, which can spot the condition years in advance, could provide a 'window of opportunity' to restore joint health (stock image)
The disease is usually not found until it has already caused structural damage to the joint (stock image)
Professor Virginia Kraus, from Duke University School of Medicine, said: 'Currently, you've got to have an abnormal X-ray to show clear evidence of knee osteoarthritis, and by the time it shows up on your X-ray, your disease has been progressing for some time.
'What our blood test demonstrates is that it's possible to detect this disease much earlier than current diagnostics permit.'
The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are joint pain, stiffness and problems moving the joint. Some people also experience swelling, tenderness and grating or crackling sounds when moving.
Almost any joint can be affected, but it most often causes problems in the knees, hips and small joints of the hands. The researchers analysed blood serum from 200 women – half diagnosed with osteoarthritis and the other half without the disease.
The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, showed biomarkers – signatures in the blood – that distinguished the women with knee osteoarthritis from those without it.
The test caught signs of the condition up to eight years before many of the women were diagnosed by X-ray.
Surgery has been the only option available for many, with more than 120,000 knee replacements performed in the UK each year (stock image)
The researchers analysed blood serum from 200 women – half diagnosed with osteoarthritis and the other half without the disease (stock image)
'This is important because it provides evidence that there are abnormalities in the joint that can be detected by blood biomarkers well before X-rays can detect osteoarthritis,' Professor Kraus added.
'Early-stage osteoarthritis could provide a window of opportunity in which to arrest the disease process and restore joint health.'
There are currently no cures for osteoarthritis, but the success of future therapies could hinge on identifying the disease early and slowing its progression.
The cause is unknown, but older age, obesity, and being a woman are thought to increase the risk.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“International Iterations news portal”。http://www.videocameralive.com/content-87e399602.html
Related articles
Here comes the char
opinionsTom Holland enjoyed a post-show cup of tea and proudly waved to fans as he left the Duke of York's T ...
【opinions】
Read moreFilm on Heroine Set to Be Released
opinionsContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom ...
【opinions】
Read morePreview: Champions League a big factor in La Liga matchday
opinionsThe 31st round of matches in La Liga comes with three of the top-four involved in the Champions Leag ...
【opinions】
Read more
Popular articles
- Pentagon vows to keep weapons moving to Ukraine as Kyiv faces a renewed assault by Russia
- Uygur Woman's Career on Rise After Bakery Gamble Makes Her Lots of Dough
- Yang Xiaoyu: Boosting Museum's Role in Promoting China's Fine Traditional Culture
- Yang Xiaoyu: Boosting Museum's Role in Promoting China's Fine Traditional Culture
- California congressman urges closer consultation with tribes on offshore wind
- Working Tirelessly on Fertile Land
Latest articles
Pentagon vows to keep weapons moving to Ukraine as Kyiv faces a renewed assault by Russia
Centenarian Doctor Committed to Defeating Leprosy
Woman Guards 'Neurons' of China's High
Lifelong Passion for Painting Persists
Nadal returns to Roland Garros to practice amid doubts over fitness and form
Chinese Paralympian Inspired and Inspires
LINKS
- China's Zhangjiajie prepares for reopening
- China, Central Asia Ready for Milestone Summit to Build Closer Ties
- How Will Xi's Visit to Xiong'an Reshape the Future of the Futuristic City?
- Exhibition featuring marine civilization of South China Sea held at Hainan Museum
- View of paddy fields in Guiyang, SW China's Guizhou
- Main Olympic railway marks 2nd anniversary
- Explore enchanting scenery of Xinjiang
- Exhibition featuring marine civilization of South China Sea held at Hainan Museum
- Scenery of Angkor archeological park in Siem Reap, Cambodia
- View of spring in Beijing