Jones G, Glisson M, Hynes K, Cicuttini F
Menzies Centre for Population Health Research, Hobart, Tasmania.
Arthritis Rheum. 2000 Nov;43(11):2543-9. doi: 10.1002/1529-0131(200011)43:11<2543::AID-ANR23>3.0.CO;2-K.
To test the hypothesis that sex-related and joint compartment-related differences in the risk of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee might be associated with variations in cartilage development, we investigated knee cartilage volume in healthy children.
We studied 92 children who were randomly selected from among students in grades 3-12 of a single school in Hobart, Tasmania (49 boys, 43 girls; age range 9-18 years). Articular cartilage thickness and volume were determined at the patella, medial tibial compartment, and lateral tibial compartment by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Sagittal T1-weighted fat-suppressed MRI images were obtained and processed on an independent computer work station.
Males had significantly more knee cartilage than females. Sex accounted for 6-36% of the variation in cartilage thickness and volume, which was statistically significant at all sites. Even after adjustment for age, body mass index, bone area, and physical activity, males had 16-31% higher cartilage volume; this was most marked at the medial tibial site. In addition, lateral tibial thickness was greater than medial tibial thickness (5.9 versus 3.6 mm; P < 0.0001) and lateral tibial volume was greater than medial tibial volume (2,823 versus 2,299 microl; P < 0.0001). Furthermore, physical activity was a significant explanatory factor for cartilage volume at all sites (R2 7-14% depending on site; all P < 0.05). The most consistent activity association was with vigorous activity in the previous 2 weeks (difference between any vigorous activity versus none 22-25% greater; all P < 0.05).
Sex- and joint compartment-related differences in cartilage development may be one explanation for variations in the pattern of knee OA seen in later life. Furthermore, the physical activity associations suggest that cartilage development is amenable to modification.
为了验证膝关节骨关节炎（OA）风险中与性别及关节腔相关的差异可能与软骨发育变化有关这一假设，我们对健康儿童的膝关节软骨体积进行了研究。
我们从塔斯马尼亚州霍巴特一所学校的3至12年级学生中随机选取了92名儿童（49名男孩，43名女孩；年龄范围9至18岁）。通过磁共振成像（MRI）测定髌骨、胫骨内侧间室和胫骨外侧间室的关节软骨厚度和体积。矢状面T1加权脂肪抑制MRI图像在独立的计算机工作站上获取并处理。
男性的膝关节软骨明显多于女性。性别占软骨厚度和体积变化的6%至36%，在所有部位均具有统计学意义。即使在对年龄、体重指数、骨面积和身体活动进行调整后，男性的软骨体积仍高出16%至31%；这在胫骨内侧部位最为明显。此外，胫骨外侧厚度大于胫骨内侧厚度（5.9对3.6毫米；P<0.0001），胫骨外侧体积大于胫骨内侧体积（2823对2299微升；P<0.0001）。此外，身体活动是所有部位软骨体积的一个重要解释因素（R2根据部位为7%至14%；所有P<0.05）。最一致的活动关联是与前两周的剧烈活动相关（有任何剧烈活动与无剧烈活动之间的差异大22%至25%；所有P<0.05）。
软骨发育中与性别和关节腔相关的差异可能是晚年膝关节OA模式变化的一种解释。此外，身体活动的关联表明软骨发育是可以改变的。
