Bone sialoprotein in laboratory diagnostic work-up of osteoarthritis.

Changes in osteoarthritis joint appear in the articular cartilage, synovium and in subchondral bone. It is necessary to find, apart from markers of cartilage destruction, a sensitive and specific biochemical marker which would reflect the metabolism as well as degradation of subchondral bone. Bone sialoprotein is mostly synthesized in osseous tissue found directly under the surface of joint cartilage. As a result, it is being increasingly perceived as a valuable marker of the metabolism rate of this layer of bone. Bone sialoprotein seems to be of use as a marker for subchondral bone degradation rate in laboratory diagnostic work-up of osteoarthritis.