Osteoarthritis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Osteoarthritis, including details on treatment, symptoms, causes, medication.

Is progressive osteoarthritis an atheromatous vascular disease?

Conaghan PG, Vanharanta H, Dieppe PA

Academic Unit of Musculoskeletal Disease, 2nd Floor Chapel Allerton Hospital, Chapeltown Road, Leeds LS7 4SA, UK. p.conaghan@leeds.ac.uk

Growing evidence from epidemiological studies suggests that osteoarthritis (OA) is linked to atheromatous vascular disease. This hypothesis article proposes that OA, or at least OA structural progression, may be an atheromatous vascular disease of subchondral bone. Further epidemiological studies, imaging investigations of relevant blood vessels, and trials of the effects of statins on the prevention and treatment of OA are needed to examine this hypothesis.

Published 17 October 2005 in Ann Rheum Dis, 64(11): 1539-41.
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