Osteoarthritis test to become available in Belgium

A new diagnostic blood test to detect the early signs of osteoarthritis will become available by the end of this year in Belgium, according to an announcement made this week by University of Liège professor Yves Henrotin during the international conference of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) in Seattle.

Until now, there was no sure-fire method for detecting osteoarthritis, the most common form of degenerative joint disease, which is characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage, leading to pain, stiffness and limited mobility in patients.

"This test is intended for practitioners and will help to detect the disease in time, before the condition has deteriorated," says Henrotin. "We have not been giving this disease the attention it deserves," he adds.

“The test uses 12 biomarkers," says OARSI chairwoman Virginia Krauss. “These biomarkers can measure the level of pain and degradation of the cartilage.”

According to figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 28% of people over 60 worldwide show signs of osteoarthritis.