Key result
Elevated COMP in knee osteoarthritis is linked to ~3-fold higher levels and carotid atherosclerosis.
Why the study?
Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) is present in both cartilage and atherosclerotic plaques, motivating an evaluation of serum COMP concentrations in patients with primary knee osteoarthritis and their relationship with disease severity and subclinical vascular involvement.
Are serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) concentrations elevated and associated with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and disease severity in patients with primary knee osteoarthritis compared to healthy controls?
Cross-Sectional (n=90)
No
Are serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) concentrations elevated and associated with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and disease severity in patients with primary knee osteoarthritis compared to healthy controls?
Patients with primary knee osteoarthritis exhibit a high prevalence of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis (70% with CIMT ≥0.9 mm) that strongly correlates with elevated serum COMP levels and joint structural severity.
Serum COMP may indicate subclinical atherosclerosis in knee OA; hypothesis-generating for shared biomarkers and requires prospective validation.
Objectives. Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), a noncollagenous glycoprotein of cartilage, is also present in the vascular extracellular matrix and atherosclerotic plaques. This study aimed to measure serum COMP concentrations in patients with primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) and assess their relationship with disease severity and subclinical vascular involvement. Materials and methods. This cross-sectional study included 60 patients with primary knee OA, contributing 74 knee assessments, and 30 demographically comparable healthy controls. Pain severity was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS), and physical function using the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index. Structural severity was evaluated by Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) radiographic grading and OMERACT musculoskeletal ultrasound scoring. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was measured ultrasonographically at three bilateral anatomical sites, with CIMT ≥0.9 mm considered pathological. Serum COMP concentrations and lipid profiles were also assessed. Results. Patients with knee OA had significantly higher serum COMP levels than controls (2,441.2 ± 1,533.08 vs. 831.3 ± 127.77 pg/mL, p < 0.001). Pathological CIMT thickening was identified in 70% of OA patients. Serum COMP showed a strong positive correlation with CIMT (rs = 0.779, p < 0.001), and both COMP and CIMT were significantly associated with OA severity. Sensitivity analysis showed that the COMP-CIMT correlation remained materially unchanged when the analysis was restricted to one knee per patient. Conclusions. Serum COMP levels were significantly elevated in patients with knee OA and were associated with disease severity. A high burden of subclinical vascular disease was also observed, with a strong positive association between COMP and CIMT. These findings support further investigation of COMP as a potential biomarker linking structural OA severity and subclinical vascular involvement.
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Elbery et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Primary knee osteoarthritis (n=90). Primary knee osteoarthritis vs. Healthy demographically matched controls was evaluated on Serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) concentration (pg/mL) and correlation with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) (rs = 0.779 (COMP-CIMT correlation); Cohen's d = 1.85 (between-group COMP difference), p=<0.001). Patients with knee OA had significantly higher serum COMP than controls (2,441.2 vs 831.3 pg/mL, p<0.001), which strongly correlated with carotid intima-media thickness (rs=0.779, p<0.001).
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