Haemarthros induced articular cartilage degradation.

The statement that blood in the articular cavity is cause of cartilage degradation is widely accepted as an axiom. Although the causes of the different articular diseases were explained in numerous studies, none of them has clarified the pathomechanism of haemarthrosis. Our aims were: 1/ to give a morphological description of the blood induced changes in the cartilage, 2/ to verify that the haemarthros is the cause of the cartilage degradation. 10 white rabbits were used in our experimental model. Artificial haemarthros was produced in their left hind knees by intraarticular injection of their own blood. The right hind served as control. The rabbits were divided into to five groups based on the time of the haemarthros (22-50 days). Samples of the condylar cartilage were taken for light, polarization, transmission and scanning electron microscopy examinations. Signs of the disorganization of the matrix structure were showed by polarisation microscope and serious lesions were detected in the perichondrium by scanning electron microscope. Similarity have been suggested amongst the pathomechanism of haemarthrosis and other degenerative cartilage diseases (e. g.: osteoarthrosis, rheumatoid arthritis), so we made the same comparison. In many cases similar morphological changes were observed, as described by other authors in case of degenerative diseases.