Joint Stiffness Is Heritable and Associated with Fibrotic Conditions and Joint Replacement.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Joint stiffness is a common, debilitating, age-related symptom, which may be seen after total joint replacement (TJR). Stiffness also occurs in fibrotic conditions such as shoulder capsulitis and Dupuytren's contracture. We speculated that the two traits (TJR and fibrotic disease) are linked pathogenically.

Methods

Using the TwinsUK NIHR BRC BioResource we tested the hypotheses that 1) joint (hip and knee) stiffness, TJR (hip and knee), and fibrotic conditions are associated and 2) genetic factors contribute to them.

Results

Participating twins (n = 9718) had completed self-reported questionnaires on the traits of interest. All three traits were significantly associated with increasing age and body mass index (BMI), as well as female sex, on univariate analy

SUBMITTER: Williams FM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4509645 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature