THE ROLE OF MATRIX MEl'ALLO ' PROTEINASE-3 (Pro-MMP3) IN OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE ELDERLY

Abstract

Osteoarthritis OA is one Jthe diseases, which has no definite etiology up till now. It is characterized chnically by pain, crepitus, joint enlargement, stiffness, and limitation• of move ent, deformity and loss of functions.

This study was carried o t on thirty elderly patients with primary OA

compared with fifteen elderly heJlthy controls matched for age and sex.

A full hi•tocy tiling and Leful genen>l oHnioal examination w" done for all cases and specific examlnation was done for both knees and the other affected joints. Osteoarthritis Jas classified into mild, moderate and severe according to the score of clinical index of severity ofLequesne.

The following laborato investigations were done for all cases included in the study (complete blood picture, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, serum uric acid and rheumatoid factor) and any case

affected with rheumatoid arthr tis, gout, any chronjc illness, traumatic or any disease causing secondary 0 I and any patients having malignancy were

excluded from the study. i I

Radiological examination of the knee joint was done for all patients and I controls. The patients were nkiologically graded into mild, moderate and I severe according to the numJer of radiological criteria ofOA found in each case using the Kellgren and Lalrence score. Also plain X rays were done for I any symptomatic joint (s) to donfirm the diagnosis ofOA of those particular I

joints.