Key result
Knee osteoarthritis is linked to increased lower-extremity arterial stiffness, thickness, and blood flow.
Why the study?
Shared pathophysiological factors suggest similarities between osteoarthritis and peripheral vascular disease, prompting investigation into peripheral arterial flow, wall thickness, and stiffness in knee osteoarthritis to clarify potential links with early atherosclerosis.
Is symptomatic knee osteoarthritis associated with increased lower-extremity arterial wall stiffness, intima-media thickness, and altered arterial blood flow compared with normal knees in patients without clinically recognizable cardiovascular disease?
Case-Control (n=93)
No
Is symptomatic knee osteoarthritis associated with increased lower-extremity arterial wall stiffness, intima-media thickness, and altered arterial blood flow compared with normal knees in patients without clinically recognizable cardiovascular disease?
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and no known cardiovascular disease exhibit subclinical lower-extremity arterial stiffness, intima-media thickening, and elevated volumetric blood flow, supporting shared pathophysiologic links between osteoarthritis and early peripheral vascular disease.
Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread chronic joint disorder characterized by the degeneration of articular cartilage, extensive bone remodeling, ligamentous fibrosis, and synovial inflammation impacting millions. Shared factors like phenotypic similarities, hypofibrinolysis, and inflammation constitute similarities in pathophysiology and clinical manifestations between OA and peripheral vascular disease (PVD). This study investigated peripheral arterial flow characteristics, vascular wall thickness, and stiffness in knee OA to clarify a potential association with early atherosclerosis. Methods: The OA cohort consisted of 35 knees with a mean age of 69 years. The control cohort consisted of 58 knees with a mean age of 68 years. Subjects underwent arterial ultrasound scanning of the common femoral, superficial femoral, and popliteal arteries. Data measured included peak systolic volumetric flow, intima-media thickness, systolic and diastolic vessel diameter, and simultaneous EKG and flow curves. Structural and functional vascular data were quantified using the incremental Young's modulus, pulse wave velocity (PWV), and distensibility. Results: Significantly elevated arterial volumetric flow, measures of arterial stiffness, and intima-media wall thickness were observed in those with OA compared to those without. PWV as calculated by the Bramwell-Hill equation were found to be significantly greater in all three vessels of patients with OA. Conclusions: This study supports the association between peripheral arterial pathology and knee OA, consistent with shared clinical and phenotypic traits. The observed characteristics of early vascular pathology suggest potential pathophysiologic linkages between OA and PVD. This foundational framework provides avenues for mechanistic studies exploring the relationship between these two disease processes.
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Olansen et al. (2024) conducted a case-control in Symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 3 or 4) (n=93). Symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 3 or 4) vs. Asymptomatic normal knees with normal knee examination and radiographs was evaluated on Common femoral artery local pulse wave velocity (m/s) (p=0.001). Knee osteoarthritis was associated with significantly higher common femoral, superficial femoral, and popliteal artery stiffness, intima-media thickness, and volumetric flow (all p<=0.02).
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