Research eyes early diagnosis of osteoarthritis

A NEW biomarker identified by researchers at the University of Warwick could lead to the development of the first blood test for osteoarthritis. The newly identified biomarker could help diagnose both osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) years before the onset of physical symptoms. 

 

The research, which was conducted by the University of Warwick’s Medical School and whose findings are reported in Nature Scientific Reports, focused on citrullinated proteins (CPs), a biomarker suspected to be present in blood of people with early stage rheumatoid arthritis. RA patients are known to have antibodies to CPs, but it was not thought of as similar to OA antibodies. 

 

The Warwick researchers found increased CPs levels in both early-stage OA and RA for the first time. They developed an algorithm of three biomarkers, CPs, anti-CP antibodies along with bone-derived substance hydroxyproline. This algorithm can be used to potentially detect and discriminate between the major types of arthritis at the early stages with just one test and before joint damage occurs.

 

According to lead researcher Dr. Naila Rabbani, “This is a remarkable and unexpected finding. It could help bring early-stage and appropriate treatment for arthritis which gives the best chance of effective treatment.” 

 

Dr. Rabbani said that the algorithm of biomarkers the team developed provides the basis for distinguishing between the two major types of arthritis at an early stage. “It has been long established that the autoimmunity of early-stage RA leads to antibodies to CPs, but the autoimmunity, and hence antibodies, are absent in early-stage OA,” she added.  

 

Early differentiation between RA and OA could lead to early diagnosis and other benefits.  

 

“Detection of early stage-OA made the study very promising and we would have been satisfied with this only – but beyond this we also found we could detect and discriminate early-stage RA and other inflammatory joint diseases at the same time. This discovery raises the potential of a blood test that can help diagnose both RA and OA several years before the onset of physical symptoms,” Dr. Rabbani said.