Jurgen Damen

The association between lumbar disc degeneration and low back pain: the influence of age, gender, and individual radiographic features.

Study Design. Cross-sectional open population based study (nested in a prospective cohort study). Objective. To explore the association of the different individual radiographic features, including osteophytes and disc space narrowing, with self-reported low back pain (LBP). Different definitions of lumbar disc degeneration with self-reported LBP and disability were considered in a large open population sample. Furthermore, in order to disentangle the discrepancies in reported strength of the associations, we characterized the frequency of the different individual radiographic features of lumbar disc degeneration and definitions of lumbar disc degeneration, as well as their association with LBP status, by age, gender, and vertebral level. Summary of Background Data. Currently within the literature, there have been no studies that have explored different definitions of lumbar disc degeneration and their association with LBP within one study sample. Methods. The intervertebral disc spaces (L1/2 to L5–S1) were evaluated for the presence and severity of anterior osteophytes and disc space narrowing using a semiquantitative score (grade 0–3). Logistic regression was used to determine the association between these individual radiographic features of lumbar disc degeneration and different definitions of lumbar disc degeneration for LBP. Results. Lumbar radiographs were scored for 1204 men, and 1615 women. Osteophytes were the most frequent radiographic feature observed, with men having the greatest frequency. Disc space narrowing was more frequent in women than men. Both radiographic features increased in frequency with age. Disc space narrowing appeared more strongly associated with LBP than osteophytes, especially in men (odds ratio [OR] = 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4–2.8). Disc space narrowing at 2 or more levels appeared more strongly associated with LBP than disc space narrowing at only 1 level (OR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.6–3.4). After excluding level L5–S1, the strength of almost all associations increased. Conclusion. We are the first to report different possible lumbar disc degeneration definitions and their associations with LBP. Disc space narrowing at 2 or more levels appeared more strongly associated with LBP than other radiographic features, especially after excluding level L5–S1.

Inter-observer reliability for radiographic assessment of early osteoarthritis features: the CHECK (cohort hip and cohort knee) study

OBJECTIVE To calculate inter-observer reliability between four different trained readers and an experienced reader on early radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) features in our early OA cohort hip and cohort knee (CHECK) cohort. METHODS Four readers were trained by a radiologist and experienced reader to score radiographic OA features. After this training they scored the CHECK cohort. Of the 1002 participants, 38 were scored by all readers. Five different angle radiographs (three for the knee, two for the hip) at three different time points were scored and compared. Inter-observer reliability was evaluated between each of the four trained readers and the experienced reader. Separate radiographic OA features and of overall Kellgren & Lawrence (K&L) scores. In addition, reliability of progression of radiographic was determined in K&L scores and joint space narrowing (JSN). RESULTS For hip and knee there was substantial inter-observer reliability on overall K&L scores. In the knee, JSN was scored with fair to moderate reliability, osteophytes with moderate to nearly perfect reliability, and other features with fair to substantial reliability. In the hip, reliability ranged from substantial to nearly perfect. Moderate inter-observer reliability was found for progression of OA in both knee and hip, with slightly better reliability for progression based on K&L scores than on separate features. CONCLUSION Good inter-observer reliability can be achieved between trained readers and an experienced reader. Although JSN in the knee is scored with lower inter-observer reliability than osteophytes, this does not seem to influence overall K&L scoring. In the hip all features showed good reliability.

Factors for Pain in Patients With Different Grades of Knee Osteoarthritis

Discordance between having pain and radiologic osteoarthritis (OA) is a well‐established fact. It is suggested that this particularly applies to the less severe grades of OA. However, some people with a Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) grade of 3 or 4 for OA are without pain. This study aimed to identify factors and differences in the factors associated with pain in persons with different grades of knee OA.

Incidence, prevalence, natural course and prognosis of patellofemoral osteoarthritis: the Cohort Hip and Cohort Knee study

OBJECTIVE To examine the proportion of isolated patellofemoral osteoarthritis (PFOA) compared to tibiofemoral osteoarthritis (TFOA) in middle-aged participants with early osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms of the knee; to describe the natural course of PFOA compared with that of TFOA and to identify whether patients with PFOA have a different phenotype compared to patients with TFOA, or with combined PFOA and TFOA (combined osteoarthritis (COA)). DESIGN Participants with early OA symptoms of the knee were selected, completed questionnaires, underwent physical examination, and had knee radiographs at baseline, and at 2 and 5 years follow-up. Based on radiographs, participants were classified as having isolated TFOA, isolated PFOA, COA, or no radiographic OA. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify participant characteristics associated with a specific group of OA at 2 years follow-up. RESULTS The cohort comprised 845 participants (mean age 55.9 years). At baseline, 116 had PFOA, none had TFOA or COA. Of these 116 participants, 66.3% had developed COA at 5 years follow-up. At 2 years follow-up, PFOA, TFOA and COA were present in 77 (10.8%), 39 (5.5%) and 83 (11.6%) participants, respectively. Multivariate regression analyses at 2 years follow-up showed that participants with radiographic PFOA or TFOA were not significantly different from each other with respect to signs and symptoms. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that OA is more likely to start in the patellofemoral joint and then progress to COA in individuals with symptoms of early knee OA. No differences in TFOA and PFOA phenotypes were determined with respect to signs and symptoms.

Diagnostic accuracy of range of motion measurements in early symptomatic hip and/or knee osteoarthritis

To examine the diagnostic accuracy of hip internal rotation, hip flexion, and knee flexion measurements for the presence of osteophytosis and joint space narrowing (JSN) in early symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA).

Skin pentosidine in very early hip/knee osteoarthritis (CHECK) is not a strong independent predictor of radiographic progression over 5 years follow-up

OBJECTIVES Age-related changes in articular cartilage are likely to play a role in the etiology of osteoarthritis (OA). One of the major age-related changes in cartilage is the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The present study evaluates whether pentosidine can predict radiographic progression and/or burden over 5 years follow-up in a cohort of early knee and/or hip OA. DESIGN The 5 years follow-up data of 300 patients from cohort hip & cohort knee (CHECK) were used. Radiographic progression and burden were assessed by X-rays of both knees and hips (Kellgren and Lawrence (K&L) and Altman scores). Baseline pentosidine levels (and urinary CTXII as a comparator) were measured by high-performance-liquid-chromatography (HPLC) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Univariable and multivariable associations including baseline radiographic damage, age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and kidney function were performed. RESULTS Both pentosidine and urinary C-terminal telopeptide of type II collagen (uCTXII) correlated with radiographic progression and burden. In general pentosidine did not have an added predictive value to uCTXII for progression nor burden of the disease. The best prediction was obtained for burden of radiographic damage (R(2) = 0.60-0.88), bus this was predominantly determined by baseline radiographic damage (without this parameter R(2) = 0.07-0.17). Interestingly, pentosidine significantly added to prediction of osteophyte formation, whereas uCTXII significantly added to prediction of JSN in multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION Pentosidine adds to prediction of radiographic progression and burden of osteophyte formation and uCTXII to radiographic progression and burden of JSN, but overall skin pentosidine did not perform better that uCTXII in predicting radiographic progression or burden. Burden of damage over 5 years is mainly determined by radiographic joint damage at baseline.

Defining hip pain trajectories in early symptomatic hip osteoarthritis – 5 year results from a nationwide prospective cohort study (CHECK)

OBJECTIVE To define distinct hip pain trajectories in individuals with early symptomatic hip osteoarthritis (OA) and to determine risk factors for these pain trajectories. METHOD Data were obtained from the nationwide prospective Cohort Hip and Cohort Knee (CHECK) study. Participants with hip pain or stiffness and a completed 5-year follow-up were included. Baseline demographic, anamnestic, physical examination characteristics were assessed. Outcome was annually assessed by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain. Pain trajectories were retrieved by latent class growth analysis (LCGA). Multinomial logistic regression was used to calculate risk ratios. RESULTS 545 participants were included. Four distinct pain trajectories were uncovered by LCGA. We found significant differences in baseline characteristics, including body mass index (BMI); symptom severity; pain coping strategies and in criteria for clinical hip OA (American College of Rheumatology (ACR)). Lower education, higher activity limitation scores, frequent use of pain transformation as coping strategy and painful internal hip rotation were more often associated with trajectories characterized by more severe pain. No association was found for baseline radiographic features. CONCLUSION We defined four distinct pain trajectories over 5 years follow-up in individuals with early symptomatic hip OA, suggesting there are differences in symptomatic progression of hip OA. Baseline radiographic severity was not associated with the pain trajectories. Future research should be aimed at measuring symptomatic progression of hip OA with even more frequent symptom assessment.

The additional value of different radiographic views on identification of early radiographic hip and knee osteoarthritis and its progression: the CHECK (cohort hip and cohort knee) study

To investigate the prevalence and progression of early radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and knee on different radiographic views, to determine whether different radiographic views have additional value in detecting early hip and knee radiographic OA cases or progression.

Bacterie niet schadelijker dan virus

SamenvattingOver het algemeen gaan we ervan uit dat bacteriële (ongecompliceerde) lageluchtweginfecties ernstiger verlopen dan luchtweginfecties die worden veroorzaakt door een virus. Een recent onderzoek toont aan dat die aanname klopt, maar dat het verschil in beloop klinisch niet significant is.

Altijd lichamelijk onderzoek bij pijnklachten heup

SamenvattingLange tijd werd gedacht dat heuppijn veroorzaakt door heupartrose met name gelokaliseerd was in de lies. Uit dit onderzoek blijkt dat de pijnlokalisatie complexer is. Ook pijnklachten aan de buitenzijde van de heup en de rug zijn geassocieerd met heupartrose.