Genetic Contribution to the Development of Radiographic Knee Osteoarthritis in a Population Presenting with Nonacute Knee Symptoms a Decade Earlier

This study examined the contribution of the osteoarthritis ( OA) susceptibility genes ASPN, GDF5, DIO2, and the 7q22 region to the development of radiographic knee OA in patients with a mean age of 40.6 +/- 7.9 years ( standard deviation) and who suffered from nonacute knee complaints a decade earlier. Dose-response associations of four single nucleotide polymorphisms( SNPs) in the susceptibility genes were determined by comparing 36 patients who showed the development of OA on radiographs ( Kellgren and Lawrence score >= 1) with 88 patients having normal cartilage with no development of OA on radiographs. Multivariate logistic regression analysis including the variables such as age, gender, body mass index, and reported knee trauma was performed. A dose-response association of DIO2 SNP rs225014: odds ratio ( OR) 2.3, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.1-4.5 ( P = 0.019) and GDF5 SNP rs143383: OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.8 ( P = 0.031) was observed with knee OA development. The ASPN and 7q22 SNPs were not associated with OA development.