Background/Purpose:

There is evidence for an association between levels of urinary C-telopeptide fragments of type II collagen (uCTX-II) and the risk of knee osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to examine the association between uCTX-II levels and knee cartilage and bone changes in a cohort of asymptomatic women.

Methods:

140 women, aged 40 – 67 years with no history of knee pain, injury or clinical knee disease, underwent knee MRI at baseline and two years later. Cartilage volume, cartilage defects, tibial plateau bone area and bone marrow lesions (BMLs) were measured using validated methods. Baseline uCTX-II concentrations were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results:

Increased uCTX-II level was associated with increased prevalence of medial tibiofemoral cartilage defects (OR 4.5, 95% CI 1.6-12.5, p = 0.004) and lateral tibiofemoral BMLs (OR 10.6, 95% CI 1.8-61.8, p = 0.01), greater medial (regression coefficient 80.2 mm², 95% CI 9.3-151.1, p = 0.03) and lateral (regression coefficient 86.0 mm², 95% CI 33.3- 138.7, p = 0.02) tibial plateau bone area. No significant association was found for tibial cartilage volume. Baseline uCTX-II levels were not associated with the changes in cartilage and bone over two years.

Conclusion:

In asymptomatic women, increased uCTX-II levels were associated with adverse knee structural changes, as evidenced by increased prevalence of cartilage defects and BMLs, and bigger tibial plateau bone area. These data suggest that uCTX-II may be a sensitive biomarker for early knee cartilage changes. Longitudinal studies with larger sample size and longer follow-up are needed.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/associations-between-levels-of-urinary-c-telopeptide-fragments-of-type-ii-collagen-and-knee-structure-in-asymptomatic-middle-aged-women/