MRI produces early warning of osteoarthritis

October 3, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. MRI produces early warning of osteoarthritis -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A novel MRI technique that tracks naturally occurring polymers in cartilage can lead to the diagnosis of early-stage osteoarthritis and may lead to better drug treatment and fewer joint replacement surgeries. Researchers from New York University and Tel Aviv University have found that decreased concentrations of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) reliably predict the onset of degenerative joint disease in its earliest stages, before patients become symptomatic. GAG is recognized as a biomarker for both osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease, which causes lower back pain.

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