[Deforming gonarthrosis (questions of pathogenesis)]

Based on the biochemical, morphological, radionuclide, electron microscopy and arthroscopic data it has been established that there are significant changes in collagen proteins of the joint cartilage in the first stage of gonarthrosis deformans when degenerative and dystrophic alterations can only be seen in the joint cartilage. The determination of type II collagen which is commonly called procollagen brings something new in the understanding of the mechanism of degenerative dystrophic alterations in the joint cartilage. A considerable increase of a local proteolytic activity has been ascertained, which should be considered as the result of deep redox processes in the cartilage tissue. Gonarthrosis-associated microcirculatory disorders in the epiphyses with the development of vascular stasis, thrombosis, mural and total erythrocyte microaggregation cells, and perivascular hemorrhages have been confirmed. For the first time two forms of gonarthrosis (acute and latent) have been defined arthroscopically. The pathogenetic treatment methods have been elaborated in terms of the stages of the morphological changes identified.