Is osteoarthritis a mechanical or inflammatory disease?

• Main Authors: Marcia Uchoa de Rezend, Gustavo Constantino de Campos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e Traumatologia 2013-12-01
• Series: Revista Brasileira de Ortopedia
• Subjects: Osteoartrite; Inflamacao; Artrite; Doenca cronica; Mecanica
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-36162013000600471&lng=en&tlng=en

Traditionally considered "wear and tear" disease, the pathogenic mechanisms of osteoarthritis have not yet been elucidated. The increasing number of articles demonstrating the influence of inflammatory factors in the onset and progression of the disease currently raises great debate in the literature about the importance of each of the factors involved in the disease. Even the choice between the terms "Osteoarthritis" and "Osteoarthrosis" generates controversy, since the first term implies the presence of inflammation as the key generator of the disease, and the latter denotes a degenerative/mechanical causal factor. The aim of this revision article is to promote a debate on the influence of inflammatory factors and mechanical factors in the pathogenesis of OA.