LAUSR

Dear Editor, The publication on ‘Telomere length and angiogenic cytokines in knee osteoarthritis (OA)’ from Thailand is very interesting. Poonpet et al. concluded that “Telomere length was shortened in knee OA patients compared to healthy controls. Plasma HGF [hepatocyte growth factor], VEGF [vascular endothelial growth factor] and G-CSF [granulocyte colony stimulating factor] were negatively correlated with leukocyte RTL [relative telemore length], suggesting involvement of telomere shortening and these cytokines in knee OA’. The important concern is on the possible confounding factor that might affect the observation on leukocyte telomere length. In Thailand, there is a common genetic inherited disease, b-thalassemia/HbE. The prevalence of this genetic disorder is very high and it has also been reported regarding the ‘accelerated telomere shortening’ in this population. Hence, the observation by Poonpet et al. cannot be validated without control of the possible confounding common genetic disorder.