Symphysial changes in rheumatoid arthritis. A microradiographical and histological study.
Autopsied pubic symphyses of 10 male and 10 female non-rheumatoid subjects and of 11 subjects with RA were studied. Osteo-arthritic changes were common in all elderly symphyses. This caused changes in the structure of the end plates and trabeculae. Some non-rheumatoid samples showed changes suggestive of erosion, but no evidence of inflammation. At microradiography the erosions seen in rheumatoid symphyses differed from the controls due to a lack of reactive sclerosis in the surrounding bone, although true inflammation was seen histologically in only two cases.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D001344:Autopsy; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008852:Microradiography; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000473:pathology; D011631:Pubic Symphysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013194:Staining and Labeling