THE CLINICAL AND PATHOGENETIC FEATURES OF OBESITY-ASSOCIATED OSTEOARTHROSIS

Objective: to assess the course of osteoarthrosis associated with obesity, by examining the secretion of hormones produced by adipose tissue, as well as that of proinflammatory cytokines. Subjects and methods. Eighty-one patients aged 47 to 73 years, who had been diagnosed as having osteoarthrosis in accordance with the criteria developed by R. Altman, were examined. Anthropometric characteristics, the duration of the disease, the degree of functional fail- ure, and the levels of adipocytokines (adiponectin, interleukins (IL) 4 and 6) were estimated and X-ray study of the joints was conducted in all the patients. The impact of altered adipokine secretion on the course of osteoarthrosis and the degree of pain was evaluated. Results and discussion. The elevated level of proinflammatory interleukin (IL-6) was associated with severer X-ray changes, higher func- tional failure, the presence of synovitis, and evident pain syndrome. At the same time, IL-4 and adiponectin were decreased in severe osteoarthrosis. Thus, the change in the level of the above adipokines is associated with the poor course of osteoarthrosis.