OBJECTIVE: Although bone marrow lesions (BML) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis, their natural history in a healthy population is unknown. This study in a healthy, pain-free population aimed to examine the natural history of BML; factors associated with incidence and progression of BML over 2 years and whether incident BML are associated with the development of pain. METHODS: 271 subjects with no clinical knee osteoarthritis, being pain free at baseline, underwent magnetic resonance imaging of their dominant knee at baseline and 2 years later. The presence of BML was assessed. RESULTS: In knees initially free of BML, incident BML developed in 14% of people over the study period. Increased body mass index (BMI; odds ratio (OR) 1.15, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.2, p = 0.001) was associated with incident BML. Those who developed a BML were more likely to develop knee pain compared with those in whom no BML developed (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.2 to 15.1, p = 0.03). Among those in whom BML were present at baseline, 46% completely resolved. There was no association between age, gender and BMI and persistence of BML over 2 years. CONCLUSION: In this healthy population, the rate of incident BML is lower than previously described in a population with osteoarthritis. Incident BML are associated with increased BMI and the development of pain. Approximately half the BML present at baseline resolved. These data suggest that in pain-free people with no clinical knee osteoarthritis, BML are reversible and may provide a target for interventions aimed at the prevention of knee osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE: Although bone marrow lesions (BML) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis, their natural history in a healthy population is unknown. This study in a healthy, pain-free population aimed to examine the natural history of BML; factors associated with incidence and progression of BML over 2 years and whether incident BML are associated with the development of pain. METHODS: 271 subjects with no clinical knee osteoarthritis, being pain free at baseline, underwent magnetic resonance imaging of their dominant knee at baseline and 2 years later. The presence of BML was assessed. RESULTS: In knees initially free of BML, incident BML developed in 14% of people over the study period. Increased body mass index (BMI; odds ratio (OR) 1.15, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.2, p = 0.001) was associated with incident BML. Those who developed a BML were more likely to develop knee pain compared with those in whom no BML developed (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.2 to 15.1, p = 0.03). Among those in whom BML were present at baseline, 46% completely resolved. There was no association between age, gender and BMI and persistence of BML over 2 years. CONCLUSION: In this healthy population, the rate of incident BML is lower than previously described in a population with osteoarthritis. Incident BML are associated with increased BMI and the development of pain. Approximately half the BML present at baseline resolved. These data suggest that in pain-free people with no clinical knee osteoarthritis, BML are reversible and may provide a target for interventions aimed at the prevention of knee osteoarthritis.
Authors: A H Gomoll; G Filardo; L de Girolamo; J Espregueira-Mendes; J Esprequeira-Mendes; M Marcacci; W G Rodkey; J R Steadman; R J Steadman; S Zaffagnini; E Kon Journal: Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc Date: 2011-11-24 Impact factor: 4.342
Authors: Leena Sharma; Michael Nevitt; Marc Hochberg; Ali Guermazi; Frank W Roemer; Michel Crema; Charles Eaton; Rebecca Jackson; Kent Kwoh; Jane Cauley; Orit Almagor; Joan S Chmiel Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2015-10-14 Impact factor: 19.103
Authors: Miranda L Davies-Tuck; Anita E Wluka; Andrew Forbes; Yuanyuan Wang; Dallas R English; Graham G Giles; Richard O'Sullivan; Flavia M Cicuttini Journal: Arthritis Res Ther Date: 2010-01-19 Impact factor: 5.156
Authors: Dennis S Meredith; Elena Losina; Gesa Neumann; Hiroshi Yoshioka; Philipp K Lang; Jeffrey N Katz Journal: BMC Musculoskelet Disord Date: 2009-10-29 Impact factor: 2.362