Significant increases in serum and plasma concentrations of matrix metalloproteinases 3 and 9 in patients with rapidly destructive osteoarthritis of the hip

Abstract

The results of this study show that serum and plasma levels of MMP-3 and MMP-9 are significantly increased in patients with rapidly destructive hip OA. Significantly large amounts of these MMPs produced in synovial tissues within the hip joint could contribute in part to elevation of blood levels. Detection of increased levels of MMP-3 and MMP-9 in patients with painful, disabling hip OA may be of diagnostic value for rapidly destructive hip OA.