Persistent high serum levels of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein in a subgroup of patients with traumatic knee injury

The objective was to assess whether changes of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) serum levels can predict the development of osteoarthritis following traumatic knee injury. Sera and synovial fluids were acquired at surgery (T0) and postoperatively during the first (T1) and second (T2) year from 30 knee-injured patients. COMP levels and anti-COMP autoantibodies were quantified by ELISA. Radiographs and patient questionnaires were used to assess outcomes. At T0, compared with controls (1.6±1.6 μg/ml), the serum COMP concentration was significantly elevated (6.5±2.8 μg/ml) with a tendency to further increase (T0 vs. T1, P=0.076) and subsequently decrease (T1 vs. T2, P=0.074). However, individual variations are observed, e.g. persistently high (8/30) or increasing (T0 to T2, 8/30) serum COMP. Ten of these patients have elevated COMP at T2 that increased from T0. COMP levels in serum and synovial fluid correlated significantly (P=0.012). Interestingly, some patients who revealed increasing serum levels of COMP from T0 to T2 displayed anti-COMP autoantibodies. These data suggest that local immune response could contribute to further joint damage. The subgroup of 10 patients (33%) with elevated and increasing serum COMP levels and in particular the patients with antibodies against cartilage matrix molecules appear at increased risk for developing posttraumatic osteoarthritis. Received: 27 August 1997 / Accepted: 2 March 1998