Despite detecting early structural changes, current magnetic resonance imaging definitions of knee osteoarthritis may not be reliable at predicting which patients will develop clinically significant disease over an 11-year period, according to a recent study.

In the study, published in Arthritis & Rheumatology, investigators evaluated whether existing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) definitions of knee osteoarthritis (OA) can predict the development of radiographic and symptomatic OA over an 11-year follow-up. The analysis included 1,621 participants from the Osteoarthritis Initiative without baseline radiographic knee OA. The participants underwent MRI to assess tibiofemoral cartilage damage, osteophyte formation, and other joint abnormalities. Two MRI definitions of knee OA were assessed: Definition A (Def A) and Definition B (Def B).

At baseline, 17% of the participants met the criteria for MRI-defined knee OA by Def A, and 24% by Def B. However, the ability of these definitions to predict the development of clinically significant knee OA was limited. Among those with MRI-defined knee OA, only 41% (Def A) and 36% (Def B) progressed to radiographic knee OA, defined as a Kellgren-Lawrence Grade ≥ 2.

These findings suggest that while MRI is effective in detecting early structural changes, it does not reliably predict the onset of symptomatic or radiographic knee OA in all cases.

Full disclosures can be found in the published study. 

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