Diagnostic value of combined serum marker changes and quantitative MRI evaluation of cartilage volume of tibial plateau in a surgically-induced osteoarthritis dog model

Objective To evaluate the combined diagnostic value of two serum osteoarthritis (OA) markers and quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation of the cartilage volume of the tibial plateau in a canine model of experimental OA. Methods A total of 18 male Beagle dogs were used in this longitudinal study. OA was surgically induced via anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) of the right knee in 10 dogs. The remaining eight dogs formed the sham operation control group and underwent the same procedure without ACLT. At various times after surgery, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure serum C-telopeptide of type II collagen (CTX-II) and type X collagen (ColX) levels. Quantitative evaluation of the tibial plateau volume was undertaken using MRI and ImageJ software. Results The serum CTX-II levels were significantly higher in the OA group at weeks 8, 12 and 16 after surgery, but not at week 4, compared with the control group. The serum ColX levels in the OA group were significantly higher than in the control group at weeks 8 and 12. The tibial plateau cartilage volumes in the OA group were significantly lower than in the control group at weeks 8 and 16. Conclusion Serum CTX-II and ColX levels combined with quantitative MRI evaluation of the tibial plateau cartilage volume in a canine model of OA demonstrated the potential to detect and monitor OA progression.