Arthritis of the hip may be inherited
A study published in the British Medical Journal in November 2000 has identified a significant genetic influence on the development of hip osteoarthritis. While genetic associations have been identified previously for osteoarthritis of the knee and hand, these studies had not addressed hip osteoarthritis and the studies that had were very small.
This study focused on 392 participants who required a complete hip replacement due to the severity of their hip osteoarthritis, plus 604 of this group’s siblings and 1718 control people to represent the genetic predisposition of the general population.
Researchers at the Queens Medical Centre and City Hospital in Nottingham in the United Kingdom concluded: 'Siblings of patients who have undergone a hip replacement for osteoarthritis are at a substantially increased risk of hip osteoarthritis. This finding supports the hypothesis that the development of hip osteoarthritis is under strong genetic influence'.
The study was funded by the Arthritis Research Campaign in the UK.
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, with symptoms ranging from minor to debilitating. The condition generally affects weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees, and also the back and hands.
Australians with osteoarthritis
According to Dr Charles Mackay, Director of the Arthritis and Inflammation Research Programme at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Australia, musculoskeletal pain, such as arthritis, is the major cause of disability in Australia and costs the community more than $3 billion annually.
Last Reviewed: 12 February 2001
- 1. BMJ 2000; 321: 1179-1183
