Osteoarthritis

Question 1

What cells form in joints with Osteoarthritis?

Answer 1

osteophytes
[also technically proinflammatory cytokines]

Question 2

What is the main feature seen on radiographs of patients with Osteoarthritis?

Answer 2

Narrowing of the joint space

Question 3

What microscopic changes occur in cartilage of patients with Osteoarthritis? (4)

Answer 3

Deep fissures
Chrondrocytes cluster together
Loss of matrix components
Bone sclerosis (increase in density)

Question 5

What are some risk factors associated with Idiopathic osteoarthritis? (3)

Answer 5

Age
Mechanical overuse
Genetics

Question 6

What are some causes of Secondary Osteoarthritis? (3)

Answer 6

Obesity
Mechanical trauma- severe impact on the joint
Predisposing conditions such as OCD

Question 6

What role does IL-1 play in Osteoarthritis? (2)

Answer 6

produced by chondrocytes and synovial macrophages- upregulates proteinases in chondrocytes
also works in synergy with TNF-a which promotes inflammation in the cartilage

Question 7

What microarchitectural changes can we expect to see in the cartilage, bone and synovium in Late stage Osteoarthritis? (4)

Answer 7

Subchondral bone sclerosis
Neo-vascular infiltration
Synovial thickening
Calcification

Question 8

What marks the point of ‘no return’ in Osteoarthritis?

Answer 8

When the collagen network of the cartilage is disrupted