Osteoarthritis is the “wear and tear” form of arthritis. It results from a breakdown of cartilage that protects the ends of the bones. Osteoarthritis is most common in the hip and knee and is the most frequent reason for total knee and hip replacement surgery.
The current methods used to diagnose osteoarthritis are ineffective prior to an advanced stage where permanent joint damage has occurred. Being able to diagnose osteoarthritis at an earlier stage could provide an opportunity to reduce or prevent permanent damage. Early in the disease it may be possible to successfully treat it with dietary supplements and medications.
Now NYU researchers Alexej Jerschow, Ph.D. and Ravinder R. Regatte, Ph.D. have developed a new scan that may provide that hoped for early diagnosis.
This new test is based on a modified form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This imaging identifies the concentration of glycosaminogycan (GAG), a polymer that holds water and gives cartilage its toughness and elasticity. According to Jerschow, a low concentration of GAG is known to correlate with the inception of osteoarthritis and other cartilage disorders.
“Our methods have the potential of providing early warning signs for cartilage disorders like osteoarthritis, thus potentially avoiding surgery and physical therapy later on,” states Jerschow. “Also, the effectiveness of early preventative drug therapies can be better assessed with these methods.”
The new imaging “tags” the hydrogen atoms that are attached to the GAGs to determine the concentration of GAG in the cartilage.
“Given the lack of knowledge about OA, I think any method that is noninvasive and relatively easy to apply will be quite valuable. Not only do you address diagnosis, but you address how we can understand OA’s mechanism,” says Jerschow.
The new test could also be used to determine the efficacy of the medications used to treat osteoarthritis. In fact, pharmaceutical companies have already requested information on using the new imaging to show that their drugs work.
According to Dr. Regatte, the time and cost for the GAG scan is essentially the same as a normal MRI. It is even possible to get a diagnosis on the same day.
Drs. Jerschow and Regatte presented their findings on August 21st at the 236th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Philadelphia.
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