A study of the association between hyperuricemia and knee osteoarthritis in the coastal Indian population

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONHyperuricemia is an abnormally high level of uric acid in the blood. In the pH conditions of body fluid, uric acid exists largely as urate, the ion form. The amount of urate in the body depends on the balance between the amount of purines eaten in food, the amount of urate synthesised within the body (e.g. through cell turnover), and the amount of urate that is excreted in urine or through the gastrointestinal tract. In humans, the upper end of the normal range is 6mg/dL (360µmol/L) for women and 6.8mg/dL (400µmol/L) for men. ABSTRACTBackground: Hyperuricemia and knee osteoarthritis are common problems that affect the aging population and they have an increasing prevalence with obesity and hypertension. Epidemiologic and immunological studies have shown a possible relation between the two conditions. Uric acid is a common factor found in association with the evaluation and treatment of osteoarthritis. There are serious therapeutic implications, particularly in using traditional gout medications, for use in osteoarthritis treatment is to be explored in detail. Our diet contains a good amount of purine containing food stuffs. The common items which increase our uric acid levels are red meat, all alcoholic beverages, seafood and shellfish. Previous studies have shown an association between serum uric acid and generalized osteoarthritis, but with the limited studies on the evidence of association between serum uric acid and knee joint osteoarthritis. This study aims to know the association between serum uric acid levels and osteoarthritis of knee joint. Methods: This is a Cross-sectional analytical study including eight hundred and thirty patients (461 males, 369 females) in a population screening during a patient education program on joint pains. Their serum uric acid level, total count, differential count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), height, weight, blood pressure, BMI and standing radiographs of affected knees were obtained. The presence of radiographic osteoarthritis of the knee was analyzed using Kellgren-Lawrence system. The patients were divided into cohorts with hyperuricemia and osteoarthritis and compared with the subjects without either of the problems. Results: Isolated knee joint osteoarthritis is present in 183 subjects (22%), hyperuricemia was present in 154 subjects (18.55%). There is a significant positive association present between isolated knee joint osteoarthritis and the highest level of serum uric acid (adjusted odd's ratio-2.24, 95% confidence interval-1.57-2.94). There is a significant positive association between high serum uric acid levels and progression of the knee joint osteoarthritis (highest level versus lowest level of serum uric acid odd's ratio-1.38, 95% confidence interval-0.96-2.74). Conclusions: It is concluded that knee joint osteoarthritis and its progression are associated with hyperuricemia.

Oxidant-Antioxidant Status in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis in Duhok City, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

“…27 Jos et al (2018) reported a significant positive correlation between the development of knee joint OA serum and uric acid. 28 Our study showed a negative correlation between ESR and serum UA in mild cases (r = -0.302, p = 0.03), as shown in Figure 2 and Table 5.…”

Electrochemical Determination of Diacerein, An Anti-Osteoarthritis Drug at Unmodified Pyrolytic Graphite Surface

“…The cases of serum uric acid level affecting OA are unknown, but few studies indicate association between serum uric acid and knee joint OA. [3][4][5] OA is a most common arthritic disorder, which generally occur in 70% in women and 60% in men at older ages. It is frequently found in people of age >65 years and in nearly 80% of those above 75 years.…”