A controlled longitudinal study of knee cartilage volume if the offspring of subjects with osteoarthritis of the knee.

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Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of musculoskeletal disability and cost in Australia. Both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated as causes of this disease. As yet, however, there are no proven strategies for prevention of this very common condition and treatment of established disease is unsatisfactory. Part of the reason for this is the fact that there is no sensitive and accurate measure of early disease. In this study, we plan to evaluate knee cartilage volume assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. This is a promising new candidate which is both accurate and sensitive. We will be measuring knee volume both cross-sectionally and longitudinally in the offspring of patients who have had knee replacement for osteoarthritis and comparing them to randomly selected controls to see if knee volume can be utilised as a marker of early or asymptomatic disease particularly in identifying which treatments may be effective at preventing osteoarthritis in later life.