An Experimental Study on Articular Cartilage in Hypothyroidism

Hahn, Soo Bong

Abstract

Thyroid hormones have a direct or indirect effect upon longitudinal bone growth and maturation. Deficient levels of thyroid hormone during the growth period are reflected in the skeleton by reduced proliferaion and maturation of chondrocytes, slowed endochondral ossification and delayed epiphyseal closure, Murray (1977) reported symmetrical malformation from multiple centers of ossification within large epiphyses, especially those of the femoral and humeral heads, gives a false impression of fragmentation of these structures. Occasionally a coxa vara deformity may develop. The apparent fragmentation of the capital epiphyses, due in reality to multicentric ossification, might suggest bilateral Partbes diseas, but it would be excessively unusual to find aymmetrical and equal development of Perthes disease of each hip Even though this condition is bilateral in 10 per cent of the cases, the changes are almost always consecutive rather than concurrent, so that symmetrical involvement is highly unusal. Teplick (1976) has shown in the adult, hypothyroid bone abnormalities are less common, These include coxa vara with flattened femoral head. Monroe (1935) reported arthritic changes of the character of the osteoarthritis are common among patients developing myxedema during adult life, Thomas (1933) and Cushing (1937) reported that articular changes occur in about a third of the hypertrophic osteo-arthropathy cases and consist of a synovitis which may progress to actual erosion of the articular surface and analylosis. (continued...)

An Experimental Study on Articular Cartilage in Hypothyroidism

Abstract

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