Avascular necrosis of femoral head Molecular Pathogenesis and Biophysical Characterization

Abstract

Avascular necrosis of femoral head (AVNFH) is a debilitating bone disorder which newlineoccurs as a result of impairment in the blood supply to the femoral head region. The newlinedisease affects the young and middle aged population mostly encountered amongst the newlinemale population. It is a life crippling disease which severly compromises the quality of newlinelife of the patient. Once the disease sets in, it takes a progressively deteriorating course newlineleading to total hip replacement procedure. MRI continues to be the gold standard newlinetechnique in the early diagnosis of AVNFH. But delayed diagnosis continues to be the newlinemajor challenge associated with AVNFH. Current medication regimens have not been newlinesuccessfully shown to hamper the progression of disease. Apart from this, genetic newlinefactors are also implicated in the incidence of AVNFH. Different omic approaches newlinenamely the genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic approaches have newlinebeen used by researchers to look out for novel biomarkers for early diagnosis and newlineprognosis. Metabolomic approach is by far the most superior approach as it closely newlineresembles the phenotype. Homocysteine is one such metabolite which is an inevitable newlineevil in the one carbon metabolism in humans. newline