Feasibility of a Tetracycline-binding Method for Detecting Synovial Fluid Basic Calcium Phosphate Crystals

Overview

Journal Arthritis Rheum

Specialty Rheumatology

Date 2008 Sep 30

PMID 18821676

Citations 3

Authors

Ann K Rosenthal

Mark Fahey

Claudia Gohr

Todd Burner

Irina Konon

Laureen Daft

Eric Mattson

Carol Hirschmugl

Lawrence M Ryan

Peter Simkin

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: Basic calcium phosphate (BCP) crystals are common components of osteoarthritis (OA) synovial fluid. Progress in understanding the role of these bioactive particles in clinical OA has been hampered by difficulties in their identification. Tetracyclines stain calcium phosphate mineral in bone. The aim of this study was to investigate whether tetracycline staining might be an additional or alternative method for identifying BCP crystals in synovial fluid.

Methods: A drop of oxytetracycline was mixed with a drop of fluid containing synthetic or native BCP, calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD), or monosodium urate (MSU) crystals and placed on a microscope slide. Stained and unstained crystals were examined by light microscopy, with and without a portable broad-spectrum ultraviolet (UV) pen light. A small set of characterized synovial fluid samples were compared by staining with alizarin red S and oxytetracycline. Synthetic BCP crystals in synovial fluid were quantified fluorimetrically using oxytetracycline.

Results: After oxytetracycline staining, synthetic and native BCP crystals appeared as fluorescent amorphous aggregates under UV light. Oxytetracycline did not stain CPPD or MSU crystals or other particulates. Oxytetracycline staining had fewer false-positive test results than did alizarin red S staining and could provide estimates of the quantities of synthetic BCP crystals in synovial fluid.

Conclusion: With further validation, oxytetracycline staining may prove to be a useful adjunct or alternative to currently available methods for identifying BCP crystals in synovial fluid.

Citing Articles

New approaches in the detection of calcium-containing microcrystals in synovial fluid.

Hernandez-Santana A, Yavorskyy A, Loughran S, McCarthy G, McMahon G Bioanalysis. 2011; 3(10):1085-91.

PMID: 21585303 PMC: 3109550. DOI: 10.4155/bio.11.35.

Counterpoint: Hydroxyapatite crystal deposition is not intimately involved in the pathogenesis and progression of human osteoarthritis.

Pritzker K Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2009; 11(2):148-53.

PMID: 19296888 DOI: 10.1007/s11926-009-0021-5.

Point: Hydroxyapatite crystal deposition is intimately involved in the pathogenesis and progression of human osteoarthritis.

McCarthy G, Cheung H Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2009; 11(2):141-7.

PMID: 19296887 DOI: 10.1007/s11926-009-0020-6.

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