通过分析不同严重程度的膝骨关节炎患者血清中Vaspin的表达水平，来探讨Vaspin在骨关节炎疾病进程中的作用。

对骨关节炎患者进行负重位膝关节正侧位X线检查，应用K/L分级标准对患者膝关节进行评分，分别选取轻度骨关节炎（K/L分级≤2）患者30例和重度骨关节炎（K/L分级≥3）患者70例，留取患者血液标本，离心后获取血清并冰冻保存，应用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）技术检测所取血清中的Vaspin的水平，分析不同严重程度的骨关节炎中Vaspin的表达变化、不同BMI患者血清中Vaspin的表达差异、骨关节炎患者血清中Vaspin水平与疾病活动度指标C型反应性蛋白（CRP）和红细胞沉降率（ESR）的关系和应用Logistic回归分析方法分析骨关节炎患者各临床及实验室检测指标是否为疾病进展的危险因素。

本研究首先检测到重度骨关节炎患者血清中Vaspin的表达水平较轻度骨关节炎患者明显增高，差异具有统计学意义（P=0.011）；其次发现肥胖组（BMI≥28）患者血清中Vaspin表达水平明显高于正常体重（BMI<24）组，差异同样具有统计学意义（P=0.027）；更有意义的是，通过相关性分析发现了骨关节炎患者血清中Vaspin的水平与患者的CRP存在正相关（R=0.36，P<0.01），而Vaspin与ESR间的相关性分析未发现两者存在相关性（R=0.20，P=0.11）；最后通过Logistic回归分析方法，发现血清Vaspin水平是独立于患者肥胖程度、年龄、性别等因素，为骨关节炎疾病进展的独立危险因素。

作为一种与肥胖及代谢密切相关的脂肪因子，骨关节炎中异常表达的Vaspin可能参与了疾病的发生发展过程，可能是肥胖与骨关节炎之间一个关联分子，并对骨关节炎疾病活动度具有一定的预测价值。

To explore the role of Vaspin in the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) by analyzing the serum levels of Vaspin in patients with knee OA of different severity.

All OA patients received a preoperative X-ray examination (antero-posterior and lateral radiographs in weight loading), and the Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade of knee OA was assessed. A total of 30 mild knee OA (MKOA) patients (K/L score≤2) and 70 severe knee OA (SKOA) patients (K/L score≥3) were included in this study, and their blood samples were collected to separate serum. Vaspin levels in serum from all patients were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Vaspin levels were compared between patients with different disease severity and between patients with different body mass index (BMI). The relationship of serum Vaspin with disease activity indices, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), was evaluated. Unconditioned Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess which clinical or laboratory index is an independent risk factor for disease severity in OA.

Serum Vaspin concentrations were significantly higher in SKOA patients than in MKOA patients (P=0.011). Serum Vaspin levels were significantly higher in OA patients with a BMI≥28 than in those with a BMI<24 (P=0.027). Serum Vaspin levels were positively correlated with CRP, but not ESR, in OA patients (R=0.36, P<0.01 and R=0.20, P=0.11, respectively). Vaspin level was identified to be an independent risk factor for disease severity in OA.

Abnormal expression of Vaspin may be involved in the development and progression of OA, and Vaspin may be a related molecule between obesity and OA and could be useful for monitoring the activity and progression of OA.