Sampling Biomarkers in Meniscus Injury to the Knee

Cartilage Diseases Clinical Trial

Official title: Diagnostic Utility of Cytokine Biomarkers in the Evaluation of Acute Knee Pain

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

The diagnosis of clinically-significant meniscal tears of the knee remains challenging, and it is unknown why only some injuries become painful. The limitations of diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging result in arthroscopy that is not always beneficial. Elucidation of biochemical pathways underlying pain in this condition may aid patient selection for surgery and provide pharmacotherapeutic targets. Cytokines may be involved in pain following meniscus injury and diagnostic cytokine assay may help physicians differentiate patients that may benefit from arthroscopy from those that may not.

Clinical Trial Description

Lavage of the operative and contralateral knee for comparison was performed under anesthesia prior to arthroscopy by the infusion of sterile saline into the knee joint followed by the immediate withdrawal into the syringe. Sixteen asymptomatic control subjects also contributed knee samples. The concentrations of 17 inflammatory cytokines/chemokines were measured using a multiplexed immunoassay panel. Pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging findings and cytokine assay results were compared to "gold-standard" intraoperative findings. ;

Study Design

Observational Model: Cohort, Time Perspective: Prospective

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Cartilage Diseases

• NCT number: NCT00836966
• Study type: Observational
• Source: Scuderi, Gaetano J., M.D.
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: June 2006
• Completion date: June 2007