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Biochemical markers in the diagnosis of chondral defects following anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the value of systemic biochemical markers of bone turnover—urine levels of cross-linked C-terminal telopeptide I (uCTX-I), urinary C-terminal telopeptide II (uCTX-II) and serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (sCOMP)—in the diagnosis of chondral defects after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. Thirty-eight patients with previous ACL rupture were included.

Methods

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the injured and the intact knee joint was performed with volumetric measurement of volume and area of cartilage (VC/AC), area of subchondral bone (cAB), and area of subchondral bone denuded and eroded (dAB). Biochemical markers were measured using commercially available enzyme-linked immunoassays.

Results

MRI-based volumetric cartilage measurement showed significant differences between the injured and the intact knees. uCTX-I, sCOMP and in parts uCTX-II correlated well with MRI parameters. CTX-I showed a significant correlation with VC and AC of the whole knee joint.

Conclusions

The results suggest that uCTX-I, uCTX-II and sCOMP could identify patients with focal cartilage lesions from an early stage of osteoarthritis of the knee.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Schlierbacher Landstrasse 200a, 69118, Heidelberg, Germany

    Nikolaus A. Streich, David Zimmermann & Holger Schmitt

  2. Department of Trauma Surgery, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

    Gerrit Bode

Authors
  1. Nikolaus A. Streich
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  2. David Zimmermann
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  3. Holger Schmitt
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  4. Gerrit Bode
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Correspondence to Nikolaus A. Streich.

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Streich, N.A., Zimmermann, D., Schmitt, H. et al. Biochemical markers in the diagnosis of chondral defects following anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 35, 1633–1637 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-010-1191-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-010-1191-5

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