Plasma and synovial fluid connective tissue growth factor levels are correlated with disease severity in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Background: Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) has been implicated in development of osteoarthritis (OA).

Objective: To determine the correlation between plasma and synovial fluid CTGF levels and the severity in knee osteoarthritis patients.

Methods: A total of 100 subjects were recruited into this study (75 OA patients and 25 controls). CTGF concentrations in plasma and synovial fluid were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: Plasma and synovial fluid CTGF concentrations were correlated with radiographic severity. There was a positive correlation between plasma and synovial fluid CTGF levels.

Conclusion: CTGF could be useful for monitoring the severity and progression of OA.

Keywords::

• Connective tissue growth factor
• knee osteoarthritis
• plasma
• severity
• synovial fluid

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Research Core Facility of Department of Biochemistry and Chulalongkorn Medical Research Center (ChulaMRC) for kindly providing facilities.

Declaration of interest

This research was facilitated by the Ratchadaphiseksomphot Fund, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, the Thailand Research Fund, the Commission on Higher Education, the National Research Council of Thailand, and the National Research University Project of CHE and the Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund (HR1155A). The authors report no conflicts of interest.