Angiogenesis in Osteoarthritis
In an osteoarthritic joint, things get a little out of whack, and that includes the growth of new blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis. It's not usually a bad thing – think about how your body heals wounds – but in OA, it can actually make things worse.
The Cartilage Breakdown Effect
Here’s the deal: as the cartilage in your joint breaks down in osteoarthritis, it triggers a cascade of events. One of these is the release of certain factors that encourage the formation of new blood vessels in the joint tissues, particularly in the synovium (the lining of the joint)
Here’s the deal: as the cartilage in your joint breaks down in osteoarthritis, it triggers a cascade of events. One of these is the release of certain factors that encourage the formation of new blood vessels in the joint tissues, particularly in the synovium (the lining of the joint)
The Problem With New Blood Vessels
Now, these new blood vessels are often leaky and not as well-regulated as established ones. This leakiness allows inflammatory cells and molecules that are already present in the OA joint to get into the tissues more easily.
Think of it like opening up new highways for the bad guys to get in and cause trouble!
The Inflammation Cycle
- These inflammatory cells then release even more inflammatory substances, creating a vicious cycle. This ongoing inflammation damages the joint tissues further, contributing to the progression of osteoarthritis.
The Pain Connection
The Solution: Embolization Therapies
So, in a nutshell, angiogenesis in an osteoarthritic joint fuels the fire of inflammation by providing pathways for inflammatory cells and molecules, and it can crank up the pain signals by bringing in more sensitive nerve fibers.
Now with embolization therapies for the knee (GAE), shoulder and hip, we can treat the true source of inflammation and pain once and for all.
