Histological synovitis and radiographic damage in knee osteoarthritis: insights from a comprehensive analysis of ultrasound-guided synovial biopsies in 161 patients
Authors' conclusion
More severe histological synovitis in patients with non-end-stage knee OA is associated with worse radiographic structural damage.
Study context
- Population
- Consecutive patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) aged 40–90 years with chronic knee pain ≥3 months and ultrasound (US) evidence of synovitis, 2016–2022, undergoing US-guided synovial biopsy
- Participants
- 161 patients
- Outcome
- Severity of histological synovitis (Krenn Synovitis Score) and its relationships with radiographic damage and clinical characteristics
Methodological detailsobservational, consecutive patients, multivariate analysis
- Observational
- Consecutive patients
- Multivariate analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Histological synovitis (KSS)
- US effusion positively associated with histological synovitis (multivariate analysis)
- Kellgren-Lawrence grade positively associated with histological synovitis (multivariate analysis)
- Age, sex, BMI, inflammatory markers, pain intensity and cardiovascular risk factors not associated with histological synovitis
- Strong positive correlation between Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grades and Krenn Synovitis Score (KSS)
- Moderate positive correlation between KL grades and proportion of patients with lymphocytes and plasma cells in synovial tissue
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Histological synovitis and radiographic damage in knee osteoarthritis: insights from a comprehensive analysis of ultrasound-guided synovial biopsies in 161 patients. RMD Open. Published 18 August 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →