ROLE OF HUMAN CARTILAGE GLYCOPROTEIN-39 AND VITAMIN C IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND CLINICAL COURSE OF KNEE ARTHROSIS IN COMBINATION WITH CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, HYPERTENSION, DYSLIPIDEMIA, CHOLELITHIASIS
Aim. To study the role of human cartilage glycoprotein-39 (HC gp-39) and vitamin C in the development and clinical course of knee arthrosis (gonarthrosis) in combination with coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension (HTN), dyslipidemia, cholelithiasis, depending on inflammatory changes in the joints, X-ray stage, pain intensity and the degree of joints’ functional impairment. Material and methods. We examined 140 patients with gonarthrosis in combination with CAD, HTN, dyslipidemia, cholelithiasis, who were treated in the rheumatology department of the North Ossetian State Medical Academy. In all patients, the main clinical parameters of gonarthrosis were assessed, and the content of HC gp-39, vitamin C, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and serum lipids was determined. Results. An increase in HC gp-39 levels was revealed in all examined patients. The highest rate of HC gp-39 was found in patients with X-ray stage III arthrosis, especially with reactive synovitis. A decrease in blood serum concentration of vitamin C was revealed depending on gonarthrosis stage. A significant correlation was noted between HC gp-39 level and main clinical indices of gonarthrosis, as well as CRP, ESR, cholesterol, atherogenic coefficient, and vitamin C. Conclusion. Changes in the levels of HC gp-39, vitamin C, CRP and lipid profile reflect the inflammation severity, which is an important component of the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis, and cholelithiasis.