Physical bone changes in carragheenin-induced arthritis evaluated by quantitative computed tomography

Repeated non-invasive measurements were performed in dogs to trabecular bone density (TBD), low density bone area (LDBA), and high density bone area (HDBA) in chronic arthritis using quantitative computed tomography (QCT). Unilateral chronic arthritis of the knee had been induced by weekly instillation of 2 ml carragheenin into the right knee joint for 12 weeks with the left knee serving as a control. CT scanning of the distal femoral condyles was performed in 12 mature dogs with chronic arthritis. Another 6 dogs underwent a longitudinal CT study starting immediately prior to induction of arthritis. Indentation test and histomorphometric analyses confirmed the bone density changes as measured by CT. (orig./GDG)