OBJECTIVE: In this observational longitudinal study we estimate knee joint cartilage glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content, in patients with an acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, with or without a concomitant meniscus injury. METHODS: 29 knees (19 men/10 women) were prospectively examined by repeat delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC), approximately 3 weeks and 2.3±1.3 (range 4.5) years after the injury. We estimated the GAG content (T1Gd) in the central weight-bearing parts of the medial and lateral femoral cartilage and compared results with a reference cohort (n=24) with normal knees and no history of injury examined by dGEMRIC at one occasion previously. RESULTS: The healthy reference group had longer T1Gd values compared with the ACL-injured patients at follow-up both medially: 428±38 vs 363±61ms (P<0.0001) and laterally: 445±41 vs 396±48ms (P=0.0002). At follow-up T1Gd was lower in meniscectomized patients compared to those without a meniscectomy, both medially (-84ms, P=0.002) and laterally (-38ms, P=0.05). In the injured group, the medial femoral cartilage showed similar T1Gd at the two dGEMRIC investigations: 357±50 vs 363±61ms (P=0.57), whereas the lateral femoral cartilage T1Gd increased: 374±48 vs 396±48ms (P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The general decrease in cartilage T1Gd in ACL-injured patients compared with references provide evidence for structural matrix GAG changes that seem more pronounced if a concomitant meniscal injury is present. The fact that post-traumatic OA commonly develops in ACL-injured patients, in particularly those with meniscectomy, suggests that shorter T1Gd may be an early biomarker for OA.
OBJECTIVE: In this observational longitudinal study we estimate knee joint cartilage glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content, in patients with an acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, with or without a concomitant meniscus injury. METHODS: 29 knees (19 men/10 women) were prospectively examined by repeat delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC), approximately 3 weeks and 2.3±1.3 (range 4.5) years after the injury. We estimated the GAG content (T1Gd) in the central weight-bearing parts of the medial and lateral femoral cartilage and compared results with a reference cohort (n=24) with normal knees and no history of injury examined by dGEMRIC at one occasion previously. RESULTS: The healthy reference group had longer T1Gd values compared with the ACL-injured patients at follow-up both medially: 428±38 vs 363±61ms (P<0.0001) and laterally: 445±41 vs 396±48ms (P=0.0002). At follow-up T1Gd was lower in meniscectomized patients compared to those without a meniscectomy, both medially (-84ms, P=0.002) and laterally (-38ms, P=0.05). In the injured group, the medial femoral cartilage showed similar T1Gd at the two dGEMRIC investigations: 357±50 vs 363±61ms (P=0.57), whereas the lateral femoral cartilage T1Gd increased: 374±48 vs 396±48ms (P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The general decrease in cartilage T1Gd in ACL-injured patients compared with references provide evidence for structural matrix GAG changes that seem more pronounced if a concomitant meniscal injury is present. The fact that post-traumatic OA commonly develops in ACL-injured patients, in particularly those with meniscectomy, suggests that shorter T1Gd may be an early biomarker for OA.
Authors: Martin Englund; Frank W Roemer; Daichi Hayashi; Michel D Crema; Ali Guermazi Journal: Nat Rev Rheumatol Date: 2012-05-22 Impact factor: 20.543
Authors: Sang Do Kim; Rebecca Jessel; David Zurakowski; Michael B Millis; Young-Jo Kim Journal: Clin Orthop Relat Res Date: 2012-12 Impact factor: 4.176
Authors: Noelle F Klocke; Annunziato Amendola; Daniel R Thedens; Glenn N Williams; Christopher M Luty; James A Martin; Douglas R Pedersen Journal: Acad Radiol Date: 2012-09-14 Impact factor: 3.173