title: Cholesterol crystals in osteoarthritic joint effusions.
abstract: Cholesterol crystals were demonstrated in synovial fluids from 4 patients with knee osteoarthritis and recurrent synovial effusions. Large crystals (10-80 micros) were readily identifiable by their characteristic plate-like morphology. Some fluids also contained numerous smaller (1-5 microns) irregular, rod and needle shaped crystals. Identification of these crystals as cholesterol was established by x-ray diffraction analysis (2 fluids) and by ultrastructural studies (1 fluid). This study documents the occurrence of cholesterol crystals in osteoarthritic effusions, but their precise pathogenetic significance remains unclear.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D003460:Crystallization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol