Osteoarthritis: A contemporary view of the problem, the possibilities of therapy and prospects for further research

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative disease characterized by the destructive changes in the articular cartilage, synovitis, subchondral bone sclerosis and osteophyte formation. Today it is the most common joint disease and one of the main causes of disability of elderly people. This review provides an overview of advances in understanding of osteoarthritis etiology, pathogenesis, histopathology, as well as the results of up-to-date research of the molecular mechanisms underlying this heterogeneous age-related disease at the clinical and fundamental levels. The article is devoted to a comprehensive review of the osteoarthritis problem, compiled considering the classical understanding of morphological changes, clinical picture, diagnostic methods, and current therapy protocols, supplemented by the modern trends of world research with the prospect of further development and implementation of the latest therapeutic methods, such as nerve growth factor-inhibitors, fibroblast growth factor-18 and stem cells treatments.