Does Antioxidant Superoxide Dismutase levels Decline with Advanced primary Knee Osteoarthritis in Synovial Fluid ? A Pilot Study

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive, degenera?ve disease that leads to joint pain, tenderness, s?ffness, locking, effusion, reduced mo?on, swelling, crepitus, and disability. The pain in OA is the most significant clinical feature and impacts func?on, mobility, quality of life, and the reason for medical advice. Methods: Fi?y individuals with primary knee OA in the age range of 45–90 years were chosen at random for the research (N=50). The American College of Rheumatology’s diagnos?c criteria were employed to diagnose osteoarthri?s, and a visual analogue scale was u?lized to score the severity of pain. Knee OA was graded using the Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) radiographic assessment method. The an?oxidant levels of superoxide dismutase in the synovial fluid were measured by using a spectrophotometric assay. Results: Grades 1, 2, 3, and 4 have SOD ac?vity values of 1.43±0.55, 1.44±0.72, 0.92±0.52, and 0.87 ±0.52 U/ml, respec?vely, in synovial fluid. Synovial fluid SOD ac?vity was higher in grades 1 & 2 of KOA as compared to grades 3 &4 and the difference was sta?s?cally significant (p<0.05). Conclusions: There was a link between K-L grade and synovial an?oxidant ac?vity level. In the late stages of knee osteoarthri?s, the an?oxidant enzyme (SOD) ac?vity was reduced.According to the results of this study, regular an?oxidant supplementa?on to early osteoarthri?s pa?ents may delay disease progression by improving the an?oxidant status of the knee, which neutralises free radicals and thus prevents car?lage damage.