Symphysial changes in rheumatoid arthritis. A microradiographical and histological study

Autopsied pubic symphyses of 10 male and 10 female non-rheumatoid subjects and of 11 subjects with RA were studied. Osteo-arthritic changes were common in all elderly symphyses. This caused changes in the structure of the end plates and trabeculae. Some non-rheumatoid samples showed changes suggestive of erosion, but no evidence of inflammation. At microradiography the erosions seen in rheumatoid symphyses differed from the controls due to a lack of reactive sclerosis in the surrounding bone, although true inflammation was seen histologically in only two cases.