Statin Medicine for Knee Arthritis
Effect of statin intake on Non-traumatic Generalized Knee Osteoarthritis
This project explores if statin medicines can help slow down the progression of knee arthritis in people with a specific type of generalized osteoarthritis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11144502 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We are looking into whether statin medications, commonly used for cholesterol, can protect against the worsening of knee osteoarthritis, especially in individuals with non-traumatic generalized osteoarthritis who have minimal bone marrow lesions. We believe that issues like high cholesterol and hardening of the arteries might speed up arthritis by affecting the bone beneath the cartilage. This work will also use animal models to understand how statins might protect this subchondral bone. Our goal is to understand if statins could be a new way to manage this type of knee pain.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research would be individuals with non-traumatic generalized knee osteoarthritis who have no or minimal subchondral bone marrow lesions.
Not a fit: Patients whose knee osteoarthritis is caused by trauma or who do not have the specific type of generalized osteoarthritis being studied may not directly benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a new treatment option using existing statin medications to slow the progression of knee osteoarthritis for certain patients.
How similar studies have performed: While animal studies have shown statins may protect bone in osteoarthritis, clinical evidence in humans has been mixed, making this a crucial area for further clarification.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Demehri, Shadpour — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Demehri, Shadpour
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.