Wish for no osteoarthritis, find early sign of risk... by checking Urine CTX-II level

Wears in articular cartilage, which is a bone that protects and absorbs impact inside knee joints, cause frictions between the bones themselves… This inflammation process leads to “osteoarthritis”, a symptom that when diagnosed is often too late. Ultimately, a patient needs to undergo knee surgery. However, nowadays Urine CTX-II testing can serve as a warning sign for risk of developing osteoarthritis… that, unlike before, may aid a patient in avoiding knee surgery.

Did you know? Osteoarthritis does not occur overnight… but classified into 3 stages

1. Stage 1: The cartilage is degenerated and undergoes some thinning, but there is not yet inflammation. Cartilage degradation causes a biomarker called Urine CTX-II. Stopping these biological substances can yield positive results. Hence, a treatment in this stage is the most effective.
2. Stage 2: In this stage, the articular surface experiences cell-level inflammation. Treatments focus on using anti-inflammatory medications or injections to delay the stage where joint deformities begin.
3. Stage 3: There is a structural change in the joints in this stage. Treatments focus on building a patient’s muscle strength to alleviate pain. Since the degeneration can no longer be stopped in this stage, the treatment is only provided to relieve the patient’s suffering.

Wish for no knee surgery… must stop symptom since stage 1!

Typically, there is no apparent cause of osteoarthritis. However, based on statistics, most patients in their 60s are more likely to experience stage 2 or mild osteoarthritis. Within 10 years, all of these patients will experience stage 3…, which requires surgery!

An observation has been made… regarding how to prolong the occurrence of stage 2 among normal people. That is, delaying the incidence of osteoarthritis symptom or inflammation to begin in patient around age of 65 years old instead of 60 years old. For this reason, it allows patients to minimize their chance of undergoing surgery in stage 3, since their activities drop with aging.

Hence, one method for patients to slow down the spread of stage 2… is an early detection of risk since stage 1 to start treatments in time!!!

Detection of osteoarthritis risk… with Urine CTX-II testing

A treatment period that yields the best results for patients is in stage 1. Cartilage degeneration… cannot be detected by X-rays or any other method. However, since biological substance called Urine CTX-II, which can be found in the urine, is released when there is articular cartilage degradation, Urine CTX-II testing helps a doctor diagnose the future risk of a patient. This biological substance can only be found in weight-bearing joints, such as the knees and hips.

What are the advantages of Urine CTX-II testing?

In the past, inflammation around knee joint membrane can be detected by 2 methods: ultrasound and MRI scans. In stage 2 of inflammation, a patient usually experiences joint pain. Palliative care using medication is provided until the pain is alleviated. Unfortunately…, the inflammation process continues, and the patient’s pain will persist.

As a doctor only performs a follow-up check by X-rays, a patient’s cartilage structural changes can be detected after the “osteoarthritis” symptom has already begun, which will be too late for the treatment. On the other hand, a follow-up assessment based on Urinary CTX-II testing allows a doctor to detect any sign of the risk more quickly.

Who can benefit from Urine CTX-II testing?

• A patient with mild knee pain and no sign of osteoarthritis from X-rays result. This is because, based on a traditional treatment using X-rays, an apparent change in the patient’s articular surface is detected when he/she enters a later stage of the symptom.
• Those who are at risk, such as marathon runners or extreme sports lovers who are more prone to injury from exercising.
• Patients who are 45-50 years old since cell-level change often occurs around the age of 40. However, they usually feel the pain after the age of 50.
• Those who are concerned of being susceptible to osteoarthritis in the future. For example, a patient who is 50 years old and worried that he/she may have to undergo knee surgery to treat osteoarthritis like his/her mother.

In addition to treatments, we are now, and in the future, putting great importance on the balance to prevent osteoarthritis. This is because if the symptom or articular surface inflammation starts, high amount of medication or vitamins cannot impede disease progression. Finally…, all of the patients will end up undergoing surgery!