title: Alizarin red S staining of synovial fluid in inflammatory joint disorders.
abstract: In 153 patients with mainly inflammatory joint disorders alizarin red S staining was used to detect calcium-containing crystals in synovial fluid (SF). The reproducibility of the results of this staining technique in 207 SF samples proved to be fairly good (65% concordant results after two observations). Electron-microscope studies confirmed the presence of apatite or calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals in 92% of the alizarin red S positive samples, and in 27% of the weakly positive samples. Based on these figures it can be estimated that approximately 16% of SF samples obtained from patients with inflammatory joint disorders contain apatite and/or CPPD crystals. In contrast with other studies, mainly involving patients with degenerative joint disorders, no correlation was found between alizarin red S staining results and either radiological joint destruction (n = 130) or age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eggelmeijer
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Dijkmans
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Macfarlane
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cats
mesh_terms: D000880:Anthraquinones; D001031:Apatites / Q000032:analysis; D001168:Arthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002131:Calcium Pyrophosphate / Q000032:analysis; D003460:Crystallization; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D000880:Anthraquinones; D001031:Apatites; C004468:Alizarin Red S; D002131:Calcium Pyrophosphate