|
|
Article: OA of hand predicts arthritic hips, knees.(Rheumatology)(osteoarthritis)
- Article from:
- Internal Medicine News
- Article date:
- January 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 International Medical News Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Patients with hand osteoarthritis are significantly more likely to develop disease of the hip or knee--particularly of the hip--later in life, a prospective, population-based study has shown.
The new findings are consistent with reports that osteoarthritis (OA) often is a generalized disease. By "identifying subjects who have a tendency for developing OA and by modifying their risk factors, it may be possible to avoid or prevent OA-related pain and disability in the weight-bearing joints," the investigators said.
They followed 1,235 patients whose baseline radiographs of the hand, hips, and knees showed no OA of the hip or knee (a Kellgren/Lawrence score ...