Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition in Nonhuman Primates

Abstract

Abstract. Naturally occurring deposition of calcium pyrophosphate has been identified in six rhesus monkeys following acute episodes of trauma and various septicemias. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analytical system and single crystal electron diffraction studies were used to identify the crystals within the articular cartilage. The osteoarthritis grading system was used to determine the degree of cartilage degenerative changes.Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPDD) is a metabolic disease of articular cartilage associated with a degenerative arthropathy in man? Other crystalline structures have been identified as important etiologic factors of acute and chronic arthropathies such as: urate," hydroxyapatite, lo* and calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate3* crystals. One case of pyrophosphate crystal deposition in a dog synovial membrane has been reported.'A naturally occurring calcium pyrophosphate deposition arthropathy in a rhesus breeding colony has been identified. The acute form followed acute trauma-septicemias and primarily involved the knee and elbow joints; any joint may be affected, however. Generalized joint disease has been identified in adult animals. The chronic disease was evident in rhesus monkeys as joint rigidity, marked atrophy of the musculature, and a degenerative arthropathy. Preliminary attempts to determine the eti'ology '(mycoplasma, virus, rheumatoid) of the arthropathy were negative. Six naturally occurring cases of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease in primates are reported and compared to pyrophosphate deposition disease in man. Materials and MethodsKnee joints fiom six rhesus monkeys of various ages were positive on scanning electron microscopy for pyrophosphate crystals and are included in this study. A positive sample had pyrophosphate crystals which projected from and integrally involved the articular cartilage. Pertinent clinical history is given in table I. All knees were opened and samples of synovial fluid were collected for bacteriologic aerobic and anaerobic culture. From each knee joint, samples of the synovial membrane, articular surface, and menisci were collected and fixed in 3% glutaraldehyde in cacodylate buffer, postfixed in 1% osmium tetroxide, dehydrated, and critical point dried and coated with gold for scanning electron microscopy. For light microscopy, the synovial membrane, and weight bearing and non-weight bearing articular surfaces were fixed in 3% glutaraldehyde in cacodylate buffer. Electron diffraction studies of each case were conducted after scraping critical point dried cartilage with a scalpel blade over formvar-coated grids. Electron diffraction patterns from known standards of hydroxyapatite, brushite and calcium pyrophosphate, (Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, MO.) then were compared to the patterns obtained from the unknown crystals.All articular surface sections for light microscopy were demineralized with decalcifying solution (American Scientific Products, McGraw Park, Ill.) overnight, washed in running ...

Comparative Pathology of Aging Great Apes

“…CPPD, however, has been reported in a variety of nonhuman primates. 204 Both conditions are increased in older and elderly humans, with a mean age of 69 y for gout and 73 y for CPPD. 151 Men are more affected than women (82% of gout cases, 63% of CPPD).…”

Possible pseudogout in two dogs

“…In human beings, ageing, trauma, genetic factors, surgery and acute generalised illness appear to play a role in promoting calcium pyrophosphate deposition (Roberts and others 1984, Resnick and Niwayama 1995). It is suggested that these factors may result in increased metabolic turnover of articular cartilage, with subsequent crystal deposition (Roberts and others 1984). The cause for the deposition of the crystals in the joints of the two dogs presented here is not known but may have been associated with the infected carnassial tooth or tooth removal in case 2.…”

“…The mechanism for crystal formation is unknown. In human beings, ageing, trauma, genetic factors, surgery and acute generalised illness appear to play a role in promoting calcium pyrophosphate deposition (Roberts andothers 1984, Resnick andNiwayama 1995). It is suggested that these factors may result in increased metabolic turnover of articular cartilage, with subsequent crystal deposition (Roberts and others 1984).…”

Osteoarthritis, calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, and osseous infection in old world primates

“…2), similar to the pattern noted in humans (Resnick and Niwayama, 1988;Rothschild, 1982;Rothschild and Woods, manuscript in preparation). Predominant lower extremity involvement with CPPD (Renlund et al, 1986;Roberts et al, 1984). Their observations may reflect the association of the CPPD with osteoarthritis (Moskowitz et al, 1984) or other aspects peculiar to an artificial (e.g., colony) environment.…”