Association between osteoarthritis-related serum biochemical markers over 11 years and knee MRI-based imaging biomarkers in middle-aged adults.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To describe the associations between osteoarthritis (OA)-related biochemical markers (COMP, MMP-3, HA) and MRI-based imaging biomarkers in middle-aged adults over 10-13 years. METHODS: Blood serum samples collected during the Childhood Determinants of Adult Health (CDAH)-1 study (year2004-06; n = 156) and 10-13 year follow-up at CDAH-3 (n = 167) were analysed for COMP, MMP-3, and HA using non-isotopic ELISA. Knee MRI scans obtained during the CDAH-knee study (year2008-10; n = 313) were assessed for cartilage volume and thickness, subchondral bone area, cartilage defects, and BML. RESULTS: In a multivariable linear regression model describing the association of baseline biochemical markers with MRI-markers (assessed after 4-years), we found a significant negative association of standardised COMP with medial femorotibial compartment cartilage thickness (ß-0.070; 95%CI-0.138,-0.001), and standardised MMP-3 with patellar cartilage volume (ß-141.548; 95%CI-254.917,-28.179) and total bone area (ß-0.729; 95%CI-1.340,-0.118). In multivariable Tobit regression model, there was a significant association of MRI-markers with biochemical markers (assessed after 6-9 years); a significant negative association of patellar cartilage volume (ß-0.001; 95%CI-0.002,-0.00004), and total bone area (ß-0.158; 95%CI-0.307,-0.010) with MMP-3, and total cartilage volume (ß-0.001; 95%CI-0.001,-0.0001) and total bone area (ß-0.373; 95%CI-0.636,-0.111) with COMP. No significant associations were observed between MRI-based imaging biomarkers and HA. CONCLUSION: COMP and MMP-3 levels were negatively associated with knee cartilage thickness and volume assessed 4-years later, respectively. Knee cartilage volume and bone area were negatively associated with COMP and MMP-3 levels assessed 6-9 years later. These results suggest that OA-related biochemical markers and MRI-markers are interrelated in early OA.