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Researchers find link between inflammation and arthritis pain in women, but not in men.
Posted On: December 12, 2016
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Arthritis is a leading cause of disability among women in Canada; commonly affected joints include the shoulders, knees, spine and elbows.
In osteoarthritis (OA), the protective material at the ends of bones—called joint cartilage—breaks down. This results in bone-on-bone friction, leading to joint damage, swelling and pain. Inflammation in the affected joints is recognized as a contributing factor to these symptoms.
Studies have consistently identified differences between men and women with OA: women are more commonly affected, have a higher burden of disease and report greater joint pain associated with OA than men. Moreover, women may have a heightened inflammatory response, placing them at increased risk for OA-related joint pain.
To shed light on these differences, a team of investigators led by Krembil Scientist Dr. Anthony Perruccio examined how the link between inflammation and joint pain differed in men versus women. The research team measured the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a widely used marker of inflammation, in the blood of 189 men and women with OA. They also asked each participant to indicate how many of their joints caused them pain. The team found that the number of reported painful joints increased proportionally with levels of CRP in women with OA; however, there was no relationship between the two factors in men with OA.
Dr. Perruccio explains, “Our study findings create a potential avenue to better risk-stratify women and men with OA pain. This information can be used to tailor assessment and treatment plans to reduce disease symptom burden and improve outcomes for individuals living with OA.”
This work was in part supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Arthritis Research Foundation and the Toronto General &Western Hospital Foundation through a University Health Network Arthritis Program Pilot Grant.
Systemic inflammation and painful joint burden in osteoarthritis: a matter of sex? Perruccio AV, Chandran V, Power JD, Kapoor M, Mahomed NN and Gandhi R. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. doi 10.1016/j.joca.2016.08.001. 2016 Aug 19. [Pubmed abstract]
Studies have consistently identified differences between men and women with OA: women are more commonly affected, have a higher burden of disease and report greater joint pain associated with OA than men. Moreover, women may have a heightened inflammatory response, placing them at increased risk for OA-related joint pain.
To shed light on these differences, a team of investigators led by Krembil Scientist Dr. Anthony Perruccio examined how the link between inflammation and joint pain differed in men versus women. The research team measured the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a widely used marker of inflammation, in the blood of 189 men and women with OA. They also asked each participant to indicate how many of their joints caused them pain. The team found that the number of reported painful joints increased proportionally with levels of CRP in women with OA; however, there was no relationship between the two factors in men with OA.
Dr. Perruccio explains, “Our study findings create a potential avenue to better risk-stratify women and men with OA pain. This information can be used to tailor assessment and treatment plans to reduce disease symptom burden and improve outcomes for individuals living with OA.”
This work was in part supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Arthritis Research Foundation and the Toronto General &Western Hospital Foundation through a University Health Network Arthritis Program Pilot Grant.
Systemic inflammation and painful joint burden in osteoarthritis: a matter of sex? Perruccio AV, Chandran V, Power JD, Kapoor M, Mahomed NN and Gandhi R. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. doi 10.1016/j.joca.2016.08.001. 2016 Aug 19. [Pubmed abstract]