Hip Osteoarthritis Case Study

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Though many of these causes of osteoarthritis are preventable, that is not the case for all of the possible contributing factors. Heredity is one of these factors that cannot be changed or prevented. The extent to which heredity impacts the development of osteoarthritis has been researched over the years, specifically and generally. These studies began with a focus on Herberden’s nodes and hip osteoarthritis (Sandell, 2012). Herberden’s nodes are swelling of the fingers as result of osteoarthritis. Due to the fact it is common enough to provide clinical data, but rare enough to be able to follow family transmission, Herberden’s nodes were studied for hereditary information. After studying family’s histories of disease and differences in gender, …show more content…
Research, such as studying the distribution of the disease in twins was conducted to determine whether there was a correlation between the twin’s genes and their likelihood of developing osteoarthritis. One study conducted by MacGregor and his colleagues, observed specifically radiographic hip osteoarthritis and determined that genetic factors account for approximately 60% of the variation in population liability to radiographic hip osteoarthritis (MacGregor et al., 2000). Though there is some discrepancy in the data, it was concluded that genetic influences account for 8-35% of all cases of hip osteoarthritis (Sandell, 2012). Current research has come along way since these initial correlations were found. Today it is accepted that a genetic influence is causing a strong impact on the development of some types of osteoarthritis (Ferandez-Moreno, 2008). That being said, the due to the fact it is most likely multiple genes impacting the formation of osteoarthritis, the specific genes have not yet been determined. However, it has been concluded that the cause of osteoarthritis is most likely mutations in these genes. The current main candidates for the potential mutated genes are related to process of synovial joint development. The mutations in these genes have the potential to directly cause osteoarthritis, determine at what age it develops, the joints that will be impacted, the severity of the …show more content…
This research will help clinicians to learn more about the molecular pathogenesis of the disease which may allow them to develop new therapeutic intervention. Based on this data, it will be possible to identify individuals at high risk of developing osteoarthritis and monitor its progression in these individuals (Valdes & Spector, 2008). Research regarding the genes causing osteoarthritis is just beginning. With the Genome Wide Association Studies, more opportunities are available than ever before to determine specific genes or even narrow down the possible candidate genes that are impacting osteoarthritis. This level of detail has not been available before. Further research will need to be conducted to study gene-gene and gene-environment interactions in order to create a larger picture of how heredity impacts an individual's development of osteoarthritis (Valdes & Spector, 2008). There is clearly a genetic influence on osteoarthritis, however the degree of that influence and the specific genes impacted is still in the process of being determined. Exciting research in this field should be expected to be unveiled in the years to come. This research has the potential to make a large impact on the treatment of osteoarthritis in the