Investigation of the mechanism of abnormal meniscus position (meniscus extrusion) in early stage of knee osteoarthritis.

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17209
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52040:Radiological sciences-related
• Research Institution: Juntendo University
• Principal Investigator: Takako Aoki 順天堂大学, 大学院医学研究科, 非常勤助教 (10740954)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 変形性膝関節症 / 内側半月板逸脱 / 骨棘 / 内側側副靭帯 / 石灰化 / 半月板損傷

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a multifactorial inflammatory disease that causes qualitative and morphological changes, and many risk factors have been reported. Cartilage has dominated OA research since quantitative MRI reported cartilage degeneration in early KOA. However, the longitudinal changes on MRI over the 6-year period since the unaffected OA in this study revealed that abnormal meniscus position is the most important factor in maintaining knee function and occurs earlier than cartilage wear, and calcification is the cause of the abnormalities. The meniscus tear was the accelerating factor, not the cause, of the abnormal meniscus position. It was suggested that remodeling of calcification into osteophytes and meniscus adherence may trigger KOA.

Free Research Field

放射線科学関連

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

変形性関節症（KOA）は加齢性疾患とされ、同時多発的に様々な兆候が表れるため発症機序や治療法に関しては未解決問題である。組織学的基礎研究は進んでいるが生体から初期OAの組織は得られない。今回未発症OAのMRIデータから組織学的基礎研究と一致した結果が得られ、OAの始まりが半月板損傷による側副靭帯の石灰化であること、半月板断裂がOAへの進行に大きく寄与することが判明した。治療法開発やOAへの進行抑制のヒントとなる成果が得られた。