[Morphologic studies of reactive changes in the joint cartilage in experimental erysipelas arthritis]

In experimentally Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae-induced polyarthritis of pigs, important pathomechanisms of bacterial invasion of the articular cartilage matrix were studied. Furthermore, observations were made concerning inflammatory cartilage changes in the transitional zone of the distal femur condyle. The morphological changes were a loss of proteoglycans, proliferation and transformation of cartilage cells, compensatory formation of collagenous fibers progressing to cartilage fibrosis and pannus formation. As histology only represents a static picture, different methods are necessary to finally verify the dynamics of this process. It appears likely, that cartilage and pannus combined, and synergistically after fibroblastic transformation, produce a reparative scar in the area of cartilage alteration.