Search

The aim of the current study was to test the hypothesis that the induction of an underlying immunologic condition in rabbits may enhance the development of steroid-induced osteonecrosis. Thirty-five adult rabbits were divided into four groups. Group I: 10 rabbits were immunized at 15-day intervals for 2 months by murine antibodies to deoxyribonucleic acid autoantibodies. Four weeks after the end of the immunization, the animals received injections of methylprednisolone for 7 days and then prednisolone per os for 8 months. Group II: 10 animals only received immunizations according to the protocol used in Group I. Group III: 10 animals only were treated with corticosteroids according to the protocol used in Group I. Group IV: five animals were used as controls. Various changes were observed in the proximal metaphysis and diaphysis of the femur in eight of 10 animals in Group I (80%) and in five of 10 animals in Group II (50%) when compared with the animals in Group III and Group IV. The most common feature was evidence of new and old hemorrhage through the sinusoids, exudative reaction and thrombus formation in veins and small arteries. Focal necrotic areas of bone marrow showed an accumulation of cell debris, residue of hemorrhage, and disappearance of marrow elements. These findings suggest that (1) corticosteroids may potentiate the effects of a preexisting condition to increase the risk of osteonecrosis; (2) immunologic reaction may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of necrotic lesions; and (3) repeated intramedullary hemorrhage and thrombus formation may represent early major pathologic findings in bone necrosis.

The current study evaluated the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies, which have been associated with thrombotic phenomena, in patients with nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the hip and assessed whether the presence of such antibodies is associated with an increased risk for the development of bone necrosis. Forty consecutive patients (25 men and 15 women) with nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the hip were studied. Their ages ranged from 19 to 56 years (average, 34.3 years). Anticardiolipin antibodies were present in 37.5% (15 of 40) of the tested patients, a significantly higher rate than is seen in healthy subjects, of whom only one of 100 had low titer anticardiolipin antibodies (1%). Six of 40 patients tested positive for immunoglobulin M alone, and six of 40 patients tested positive for immunoglobulin A alone. Three of 40 patients tested positive for immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin A isotype. The results of the current study indicate an increased incidence of anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head, which may reflect that anticardiolipin antibodies play a role in the pathogenesis of bone necrosis by predisposing to thrombotic phenomena.

The current study evaluated the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies, which have heen associated with thrombotic phenomena, in patients with nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the hip and assessed whether the presence of such antibodies is associated with an increased risk for the development of bone necrosis. Forty consecutive patients (25 men and 15 women) with nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the hip were studied. Their ages ranged from 19 to 56 years (average, 34.3 years). Anticardiolipin antibodies were present in 37.5% (15 of 40) of the tested patients, a significantly higher rate than is seen in healthy subjects, of whom only one of 100 had low titer anticardiolipin antibodies (1%). Six of 40 patients tested positive for immunoglobulin M alone, and six of 40 patients tested positive for immunoglobulin A alone. Three of 40 patients tested positive for immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin A isotype. The results of the current study indicate an increased incidence of anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head, which may reflect that anticardiolipin antibodies play a role in the pathogenesis of bone necrosis by predisposing to thrombotic phenomena.