Low-dose radiation therapy may slow progression of knee osteoarthritis, long-term study indicates
Low-dose radiation therapy may do more than relieve pain from early knee osteoarthritis, with a long-term analysis suggesting it could also influence how the disease progresses. The findings come from a new analysis of a randomized trial conducted in Russia that followed nearly 300 patients for almost 12 years.
A long-term study presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology Annual Meeting suggests that low-dose radiation therapy may slow the progression of knee osteoarthritis. The randomized trial followed nearly 300 patients for almost 12 years, with those who received the therapy experiencing sustained improvements in pain, physical function, and quality of life compared to those who received medication alone.
MRI scans showed significantly less structural deterioration in the knees of the radiation therapy group. The study found a 67% lower adjusted hazard of disability due to knee osteoarthritis in the radiation therapy group, particularly among patients with grade 2 disease. While the findings show promise, further research is needed to confirm the disease-modifying effect.
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