The present invention includes a method for determining whether a subject diagnosed with osteoarthritis is at increased risk for progression to severe osteoarthritis within 12-24 months, the method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a blood sample; (b) measuring in the blood sample prepared in step (a) a level of DNA methylation; (c) comparing the DNA methylation level(s) measured in step (b) to a control blood sample level(s) of DNA methylation, and (d) identifying the subject as being at increased risk for progression to severe osteoarthritis within 12-24 months when the DNA methylation is increased by at least 2 fold as compared to the control blood level(s) of DNA methylation.
PERIPHERAL BLOOD DNA METHYLATION MODELS AS PREDICTORS OF KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS RADIOGRAPHIC PROGRESSION