Detection of calcium phosphate crystals in the joint fluid of patients with osteoarthritis - analytical approaches and challenges.
Clinically, osteoarthritis (OA) is characterised by joint pain, stiffness after immobility, limitation of movement and, in many cases, the presence of basic calcium phosphate (BCP) crystals in the joint fluid. The detection of BCP crystals in the synovial fluid of patients with OA is fraught with challenges due to the submicroscopic size of BCP, the complex nature of the matrix in which they are found and the fact that other crystals can co-exist with them in cases of mixed pathology. Routine analysis of joint crystals still relies almost exclusively on the use of optical microscopy, which has limited applicability for BCP crystal identification due to limited resolution and the inherent subjectivity of the technique. The purpose of this Critical Review is to present an overview of some of the main analytical tools employed in the detection of BCP to date and the potential of emerging technologies such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman microspectroscopy for this purpose.
Yavorskyy
Alexander
A
Bioanalytical Chemistry & Diagnostics Group, National Centre for Sensor Research, School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland.
Hernandez-Santana
Aaron
A
McCarthy
Geraldine
G
McMahon
Gillian
G
D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000032:analysis*; D003460:Crystallization; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017886:Durapatite / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*
D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D017886:Durapatite; C020243:calcium phosphate