Response of osteoarthritis biomarkers after a rehabilitation program: study protocol

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Knee osteoarthritis is a progressive degenerative joint disease and remains a leading cause of pain, physical impairment and decline in health-related quality of life in adults. Despite its incidence being amongst the highest in chronic diseases, effective biomarkers are not available to assist in its management. The main goal of this study is to identify mediators that serve as biomarkers and investigate if the levels of these biomarkers will be correlated to the efficacy of a rehabilitation program.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This is a prospective cohort study with 65 participants. Patients with mild-to-moderate symptomatic knee osteoarthritis will be recruited. The Rehabilitation Program will consist of three session/week during eight weeks. Assessment about functional evaluation will be performed before and after treatment, using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and EuroQOL-5D (Euro quality of life - five dimension) scales, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and physical function tests (time up and go, isometric strength testing and kinematic gait analysis). Serum levels of classical pro-inflammatory cytokines, hyaluronan and high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB-1) will be evaluated. The primary outcome is the change in WOMAC scale from baseline to end. Statistical analyses will be used to determine correlation of physical improvement and serum biomarkers. Adverse events will be monitored throughout the study.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This trial expect to study the correlation between the anti-inflammatory effects of rehabilitation program derived factors that may be involved in suppressing cytokine induction via suppressing HMGB-1.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Trial registration:</strong> Clinicaltrials.gov - NCT02964624.</p>