Findings from B.Z. Alizadeh and co-authors broaden understanding of rheumatic disease pathology
2007 NOV 13 -- Investigators publish new data in the report 'The H63D variant in the HFE gene predisposes to arthralgia, chondrocalcinosis and osteoarthritis.' In this recently published study, investigators in Rotterdam, Netherlands conducted a study "To investigate the relation between the HFE C282Y and H63D variants with arthralgia and joint pathology in the population-based Rotterdam Study From a cohort of 7983 people aged 55 years and over, 2095 randomly drawn subjects were genotyped for C282Y and H63D variants." "We compared the frequency of arthralgia, and the presence of chondrocalcinosis, osteophytes, joint space narrowing and radiographic osteoarthritis in hand, hip and knee joints, and Heberden's nodes in carriers of HFE variants with that in non-carriers Overall, there was a significantly higher frequency of arthralgia (odds ratio 1.6; 95% CI 1.0 to 2.6), oligoarthralgia (2.3; 1.2 to 4.4) and Heberden's nodes (2.0; 1.1 to 3.8) in H63D homozygotes compared with non-carriers. In subjects aged 65 years or younger, H63D homozygotes had significantly more often polyarthralgia (3.1; 1.3 to 7.4), chondrocalcinosis in hip or knee joints (4.7; 1.2 to 18.5), and more hand joints with osteophytes (6.1±1.0 vs 4.4±0.3), space narrowing (2.8±0.5 vs 1.0±0.1), radiographic osteoarthritis (4.4±0.7 vs 2.0±0.2) and Heberden's nodes (3.1; 1.3 to 12.8) than non-carriers," wrote B.Z. Alizadeh and colleagues, . The researchers concluded: "We found no relation of arthralgia or joint pathology to C282Y, but compound heterozygotes had a significantly higher frequency of arthralgia (2.9; 1.0 to 9.3), chondrocalcinosis in hip joints (6.5; 1.8 to 22.3), and an increased number of osteophytes in knee (6.9±1.2, n=5 vs 2.4±0.1) joints at a later age (>65 years) The HFE H63D variant may explain, at least in part, the prevalence of arthralgia in multiple joints sites, chondrocalcinosis, and hand osteoarthritis in the general population." Alizadeh and colleagues published their study in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (The H63D variant in the HFE gene predisposes to arthralgia, chondrocalcinosis and osteoarthritis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2007;66(11):1436-42). For additional information, contact B.Z. Alizadeh, Erasmus Medical Centre, Dept. of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Rotterdam, Netherlands. The publisher of the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases can be contacted at: B M J Publishing Group, British Med Association House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR, England. Keywords: Netherlands, Rotterdam, Rheumatic Disease Pathology, Arthralgia, Osteoarthritis, Pathology, Rheumatic Disease. This article was prepared by Life Science Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Life Science Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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