Association of adipokines with severity of knee osteoarthritis assessed clinically and on magnetic resonance imaging.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the association between the adipokines Leptin, Adiponectin, Resistin, and high sensitive-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) with clinical, radiographical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment of knee osteoarthritis (OA) severity. Design: We performed a cross-sectional study in participants with earlier knee OA. Demographics, clinical (WOMAC), radiographical and MRI (BLOKS scoring) severity of knee OA were assessed. Serum leptin, adiponectin, resistin and hs-CRP were measured. Association of adipokines and hs-CRP with clinical, radiographic and MRI severity outcomes were evaluated using regression models with adjustment with age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Results: 137 participants with earlier knee OA (82% women, mean â€‹± â€‹SD age 55.5 â€‹± â€‹7.8 years) were included. Participants had moderate knee OA symptoms, mean WOMAC pain and function were 30.6 â€‹± â€‹18.0, and 31.7 â€‹± â€‹19.8 respectively. Mean BMI was 27.0 â€‹± â€‹5.9 â€‹kg/m2. After adjustment with age, sex and BMI, serum leptin was positively associated with osteophyte size, cartilage integrity, infrapatellar synovitis and effusion. While hs-CRP was associated with meniscus extrusion and adiponectin was associated with WOMAC pain and function. Conclusion: Serum adipokines, particularly leptin was associated with severity of various structural defects of the knee joint on MRI beyond age, sex and BMI in earlier knee OA.