Biomarker Insights 
Biomarker Insights is a peer-reviewed, open-access research journal where those engaged in biomarker research can turn for rapid communication of the latest advances in the application of biomarkers toward the discovery of new knowledge, and toward the clinical translation of that knowledge to increase the efficacy of practicing clinicians.
Register as a peer reviewer or update your details here.
Do We Need Biomarkers for Disc Degeneration?
Helen E. Gruber and Edward N. Hanley, Jr.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, N.C.
Abstract: Disc degeneration plays a major role in this country's medical, social and economic structure. The life-time prevalence of low back pain, which has disc degeneration as its cause, is about 80% in the general population. It is a primary cause of disability and estimated costs related to low back disorders exceed $100 billion per year in the U.S. alone. Biomarkers are becoming increasingly important as indicators of the presence of disease, and in evaluating outcomes during clinical treatment. Cell-based biologic therapies which are currently being developed to treat disc degeneration are going to be most efficacious when applied to the early stages of disc disease. In this article we ask: 1) Whether there are existing biomarkers which could play a role in detecting early stages of disc degeneration, and 2) Highlight exciting potentials in future biomarker screening for disc degeneration.
Readers of this also read:
- Introductory Editorial (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Insights)
- Collagen Biomarkers for Arthritis Applications
- Solid-Phase Extraction and Reverse-Phase HPLC: Application to Study the Urinary Excretion Pattern of Benzophenone-3 and its Metabolite 2,4-Dihydroxybenzophenone in Human Urine
- Squamous Differentiation and Cytokeratin Expression in an Osteosarcoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
- Critical Involvement of Cytokines and Chemokines in the Pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Vasculitis