Bone marrow lesions predict progression of cartilage defects and loss of cartilage volume in healthy middle-aged adults without knee pain over 2 yrs

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: In knee OA, the presence of bone marrow lesions (BMLs) predicts pain and progression of disease. Their occurrence has been described in healthy, pain-free subjects, but whether their presence affects change in cartilage is unknown. METHODS: Two hundred and seventy-one healthy community-dwelling adults with no history of knee injury, knee pain or clinical knee OA had an MRI performed on their dominant knee at baseline and 2 yrs later to assess the relationship between the presence of BMLs at baseline and change in tibiofemoral cartilage defects and tibial cartilage volume over 2 yrs. RESULTS: BMLs were present in 37 (14%) subjects. Cartilage defects were more likely to progress rat..