Researchers at Duke Health have published a study showing that knee osteoarthritis can be predicted in women through a blood test up to eight years before it can be detected by X-ray. Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that is caused by a combination of cartilage wearing away, bone thickening, and inflammation. This condition can cause debilitating pain for those affected by it.
Dr. Virginia Byers Kraus, a professor of rheumatology at the Duke University Medical Center, is the senior author of the study. She explained that the test works by detecting a unique immune response associated with osteoarthritis. This response identifies individuals who are at risk for developing the condition.
While there is currently no cure for osteoarthritis, preventative measures can help slow the progression of the disease. Kraus emphasized that implementing this blood test in a clinical setting would be more effective if it could be detected earlier in individuals.
She mentioned, “There’s not as much change, not as much damage, the disability isn’t there yet. So, everybody in the field agrees that if you could treat it earlier, it could be much easier.” Although the blood test is not yet available for clinical use, Kraus believes that it could potentially be utilized in the future to screen people earlier in their lives and identify more individuals who would benefit from preventive interventions.