Serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein reflects radiological damage and functional status in hemophilic arthropathy patients

Aim of the workThe objective of our study was to determine the utility of serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) as a serum biomarker for hemophilic arthropathy and to evaluate the degree of joint damage radiologically using plain X-ray and functionally using functional independence score of hemophilia (FISH) and to study their relation with COMP.Patients and methodsThe study was carried out on 30 boys with hemophilic arthropathy (group I) and 20 healthy boys as control (group II). All hemophiliacs patients were scored for FISH and radiological changes (Pettersson’s score). Factor activity level was measured in group I while COMP was measured in both groups.ResultsThe patients’ age ranged from 6 to 16 years (mean 10.6 ± 2.7 years). The knee was the most commonly affected joint (83.3%). Fifteen patients (50%) had severe hemophilia, 7 had moderate and 8 had mild hemophilia. Mean serum levels of COMP in hemophilic patients (529 ± 288.1 ng/ml) were significantly higher than in control (285 ± 63.2 ng/ml) (p = 0.014). The COMP level was significantly higher in patients with severe hemophilia compared to those with moderate or mild disease (p < 0.001). The serum COMP significantly correlated with joint space narrowing (r = 0.64, p < 0.001) and with the total Pettersson score (r = 0.42, p = 0.02) and negatively with the FISH score (r = −0.44, p = 0.016).ConclusionsSerum COMP level is indicative of the amount of joint damage in patients with hemophilic arthropathy. The combined scoring of functional independence and Pettersson score in addition to serum levels of COMP give a good overview of the degree of hemophilic arthropathy.