Researchers Examine Knee Osteoarthritis

Researchers at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) are conducting the first study of brain activity associated with pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis — a degenerative disease of the soft and bony tissues of the knee. The study will provide researchers with a better understanding of the role of the central nervous system in pain associated with knee osteoarthritis and may lead to new drug and behavior pain management therapies.

June 15, 2000

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Researchers at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) are conducting the first study of brain activity associated with pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis — a degenerative disease of the soft and bony tissues of the knee. The study will provide researchers with a better understanding of the role of the central nervous system in pain associated with knee osteoarthritis and may lead to new drug and behavior pain management therapies.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting more than 20 million Americans, according to the Arthritis Foundation. It most often affects weight-bearing joints, such as the knees and hips. Although usually associated with aging, obesity and genetics may also be risk factors for the disease.

"We're interested in determining how brain responses to pain differ in people with knee osteoarthritis from healthy people," says Laurence A. Bradley, Ph.D., professor of medicine with UAB's Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology and co-principal investigator for the study. "There is evidence that people who experience prolonged periods of pain may become more sensitive to pain."

During the study, researchers will apply pressure to four points on the knee and will use neuroimaging to observe changes that occur in certain parts of the brain responsible for processing pain-related sensory and emotional information.

Researchers are recruiting right-handed women and men with diagnosed knee osteoarthritis and healthy people for the study. Volunteers with knee osteoarthritis may currently be on treatment, as long as they have not had surgery on the affected knee.

Volunteers will be screened to ensure they meet the study's criteria. Volunteers accepted for the study will be seen at the UAB General Clinical Research Center on four half-days over a period of a couple weeks. They will be compensated $200 and also will receive a follow-up consultation with researchers at not cost to discuss the results of their study participation.

For more information, or to volunteer, contact Brian Kersh at (205) 975-9614 or at (205) 934- 9614.