Objective

To investigate whether radiographically evident osteoarthritis (ROA) in 55-65-year-old men and women is associated with specific alleles or genotypes of the cartilage matrix protein (CRTM) and cartilage link protein (CRTL1) genes.

Methods

Cases were selected from a population-based study on the presence of ROA of the knee or hip. Further radiographic analysis included scoring for spine and hand ROA. Controls, selected from the same population, were free of ROA in all joints.

Results

The CRTM locus was significantly associated with hip ROA in men (odds ratio 0.50, 95% confidence interval 0.26-0.95). A significant association between ROA and the CRTL1 gene was not observed.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the CRTM locus may play a role in the sex- and joint site-specific pattern of ROA development.

Overview publication

TitleInvestigation of the association of the CRTM and CRTL1 genes with radiographically evident osteoarthritis in subjects from the Rotterdam study.
DateOctober 1st, 1997
Issue nameArthritis and rheumatism
Issue numberv40.10:1760-5
DOI10.1002/art.1780401006
AuthorsMeulenbelt I, Bijkerk C, de Wildt SC, Miedema HS, Valkenburg HA, Breedveld FC, Pols HA, Te Koppele JM, Sloos VF, Hofman A, Slagboom PE & van Duijn CM
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