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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2023 Mar 1;62(3):1350-1355.
doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac442.

Serum biomarkers in prednisolone-treated hand osteoarthritis patients

Lotte A van de Stadt  1 , Féline P B Kroon  1   2 , Christian F Thudium  3 , Anne C Bay-Jensen  3 , Margreet Kloppenburg  1   4
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Serum biomarkers in prednisolone-treated hand osteoarthritis patients

Lotte A van de Stadt et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). .

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate whether biomarkers are modulated by prednisolone treatment in patients with hand OA and whether they can predict response to prednisolone.

Methods: Biomarkers reflecting tissue turnover and inflammation [aggrecanase-derived neoepitope of arggecan (ARGS), MMP-derived neoepitope of type I collagen (C1M), MMP-derived neoepitope of type III collagen (C3M), marker of true type V collagen formation (PROC5), MMP-derived neoepitope of CRP (CRPM), citrullinated vimentin fragment (VICM), high-sensitivity (hsCRP)] were measured in sera from 78 patients with painful inflammatory hand OA, who were randomized between prednisolone or placebo treatment. Association of baseline biomarker levels with disease characteristics [visual analogue scale (VAS) pain, synovial thickening ultrasonography sum score and erosive OA] and OMERACT-Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) response after 6 weeks were analysed with linear or logistic regression and adjusted for age, BMI and sex. Change in biomarker levels after 6 weeks was assessed with linear regression adjusted for baseline biomarker levels, age, BMI and sex.

Results: For all patients (mean age 64 years, 79% female), there were no associations between biomarker levels and VAS finger pain or synovial thickening score at baseline. Patients with erosive hand OA had higher levels of C1M and hsCRP [adjusted geometric mean ratio 1.24 (95% CI 1.03, 1.49) and 1.91 (1.19, 3.06), respectively]. Biomarker levels did not decrease over time. There was no association between baseline biomarkers levels and OARSI response, except for CRPM [geometric mean ratio of 0.88 (0.77, 1.00)].

Conclusion: Erosive disease was associated with higher levels of C1M and hsCRP. Biomarker levels were not influenced by treatment with prednisolone. Current biomarkers were not associated with response to prednisolone in hand OA.

Keywords: RCT; biomarkers; hand osteoarthritis; prednisolone.

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Figures

<sc>Fig</sc>. 1
Fig. 1
Biomarker levels association with pain, inflammation of erosive disease Logarithmic transformed levels of CRPM, ARGS, C1M, C3M, PROC5, VICM and hsCRP are shown (y-axes) for different levels of VAS pain fingers (left panels), synovial thickening score on US (middle panels) or erosive disease [right panels; mean (s.d.)]. CRPM: MMP-derived neoepitope of CRP; ARGS: aggrecanase derived neoepiptope of arggecan; C1M: MMP-derived neoepitope of type I collagen; C3M: MMP-derived neoepitope of type III collagen; PROC5: marker of true type V collagen formation; VICM: citrullinated vimentin fragment, hsCRP: high-sensitivity CRP; VAS: visual analogue scale.
<sc>Fig</sc>. 2
Fig. 2
Biomarker levels over time Logarithmic transformed levels [mean (s.d.)] of CRPM, ARGS, C1M, C3M, PROC5, VICM and hsCRP are shown (y-axes) over time (x-axes). Biomarkers were measured at baseline, week 6 and week 14. CRPM: MMP-derived neoepitope of CRP; ARGS: aggrecanase-derived neoepitope of arggecan; C1M: MMP-derived neoepitope of type I collagen; C3M: MMP-derived neoepitope III collagen; PROC5: marker of true type V collagen formation; VICM: citrullinated vimentin fragment, hsCRP: High sensitive CRP.
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References

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