[Biological markers of osteoarthritis]

ABSTRACT

Osteoarthritis is the most frequent pathology of rheumatologic affections. With the progressive ageing of the populations, it becomes a major problem of public health. Active research is under way to clarify the pathophysiology and the prognosis of this disease and to identify new targets for treatments. Recently, the development of several biological markers measured in blood, urine and/or synovial fluid by immunological methods reflect the joint tissues remodelling. The most specific markers of articular formation are mainly N and C-propeptides of type Ii procohagen [PHANP and PIIC]. The activity of the cartilage degradation is indicated by the C-terminal telopeptide of type II collagen [CTX II] and COMP [cartilage oligometric matrix protein]. The hyaluronate constitutes the most used parameter for the evaluation of the activity of synthesis of the synoviocytes. The study of the interest of measuring the bone turnover markers during osteoarthritis showed contradictory results. Consequently, the interest itself is still not definite. As the evolution of osteoarthritis is unpredictable and there is no parallelism between the clinical and the radiological signs, the biological parameters could constitute predictive factors of the evolution of this pathology and direct the therapeutic attitude. A large number of studies would be necessary to standardize assay methods of these markers and to optimize their practical use