Bleeding Breakthrough: Blood Test Detects Knee Osteoarthritis Up to 8 Years Before X-Rays

A recent study conducted by researchers at Duke Health has shown that knee osteoarthritis can be detected in women up to eight years before it can be detected through an X-ray, thanks to a blood test. Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that results from the wearing away of cartilage, thickening of bones, and chronic inflammation. It can cause debilitating pain for those affected by it.

Dr. Virginia Byers Kraus, a professor of rheumatology at the Duke University Medical Center, is the senior author of the study. She explained that the blood test works by detecting a unique immune response associated with osteoarthritis, which helps identify individuals who are at risk for developing the condition. While there is currently no cure for osteoarthritis, preventative measures can help slow its progression.

Kraus emphasized that implementing this blood test in a clinical setting would be more effective if it could be detected earlier in individuals. She stated, “There’s not as much change, not as much damage, the disability isn’t there yet. So, everybody in the field agrees that if you could treat it earlier, it could be much easier.” Although the blood test is not yet available for clinical use, Kraus believes that it could potentially be utilized in the future to screen people earlier in their lives and identify more individuals who would benefit from preventive interventions.