Markers metabolici cartilaginei

The Authors review the recent literature data on the biochemical markers of joint damage. In particular several metabolites are now evaluated with internationally validated methods. Among them citokines, MMPs, YKL-40, VEGF, COMP, collagen metabolites, seem the most promising for the evaluation of the articular damage. Because such markers came from different structures of the joint (bone, cartilage, synovial membrane, soft tissues of the joint, etc) or from others organs and tissues, the literature data are sometimes discordant. These studies seem more useful if such parameters, are registered as basal values and then followed in the same patients according to a planned time schedule in order to better evaluate their variations within the disease.