Article

Cartilage mineralization is common in end-stage osteoarthritis

Contrary to earlier reports, mineralization of articular cartilage is a common event in end-stage osteoarthritis (OA) and is closely associated with disease progression. There is a significant correlation between clinical symptoms and the amount of mineralized cartilage.

Contrary to earlier reports, mineralization of articular cartilage is a common event in end-stage osteoarthritis (OA) and is closely associated with disease progression. There is a significant correlation between clinical symptoms and the amount of mineralized cartilage.

Fuerst and coworkers examined synovial fluid and cartilage from 120 patients with knee OA who were undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Their investigation included radiography, digital-content radiography (DCR), histological assessment of cartilage, and electron microscopy.

All patients who underwent DCR had evidence of mineralization-which sometimes was missed by conventional radiography. Mineral deposits existed in 100% of articular cartilage and 62.5% of meniscal tissue. Other methods of evaluation were less sensitive; microscopy, for example, showed crystals in 60% of the patients examined. The extent of mineralization was directly correlated with the patient’s preoperative clinical condition but was unrelated to his or her age. The extent of mineralization increased with the extent of cartilage destruction, and the content consisted mainly of basic calcium phosphate (BCP) rather than calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals.

The authors suggested that the finding of mineralization with BCP in all cartilage specimens from patients with OA may have a significant effect on diagnostic strategies, treatment concepts, and understanding of OA.

Related Videos
Kimberly A. Davidow, MD: Elucidating Risk of Autoimmune Disease in Childhood Cancer Survivors
Matthew J. Budoff, MD: Examining the Interplay of Coronary Calcium and Osteoporosis | Image Credit: Lundquist Institute
Orrin Troum, MD: Accurately Imaging Gout With DECT Scanning
John Stone, MD, MPH: Continuing Progress With IgG4-Related Disease Research
Philip Conaghan, MBBS, PhD: Investigating NT3 Inhibition for Improving Osteoarthritis
Rheumatologists Recognize the Need to Create Pediatric Enthesitis Scoring Tool
Presence of Diffuse Cutaneous Disease Linked to Worse HRQOL in Systematic Sclerosis
Alexei Grom, MD: Exploring Safer Treatment Options for Refractory Macrophage Activation Syndrome
Jack Arnold, MBBS, clinical research fellow, University of Leeds, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine
John Tesser, MD, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine, Midwestern University, and Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Lecturer, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, and Arizona Arthritis & Rheumatology Associates
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.