EARLY MANIFESTATIONS OF PRIMARY KNEE OSTEOARTHROSIS: IMMUNOLOGICAL ASPECTS

Objective: to evaluate immunological changes in patients with primary knee osteoarthrosos (OA) at an early stage of its development. Subjects and methods. The patients underwent clinical, instrumental (ultrasonography, X-ray, and magnetic resonance imaging of the knee joints), and laboratory examination that involved the assessment of cartilage tissue metabolism, activity of an inflammatory response, and the immune system. Results. The patients showed increases in the serum concentration of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein and in the production of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL-1ß, tumor necrosis factor-а, and IL-6), as well as changes in the qualitative and quantitative composition of peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations (T and B lymphocytes, natural killer cells). Conclusion. The study of the immunological aspects of primary knee OA at an early stage of its development showed the activation of proinflammatory cytokines along with a certain change in the cellular component of immunity, which determines an autoimmune response that creates conditions for the development of an inflammatory process that entails degenerative and dystrophic phenomena in the joint tissues. This is confirmed by the elevated serum level of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein. The results of the study can be useful for the objective assessment of these patients’ condition and for the prescription of immunomodulatory and chondroprotective drugs just at an early stage of the disease.

rheumatology, osteoarthrosis, immunological changes