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New Report On Cellular Changes in Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease

Loss of blood supply to the growth center of the femoral head (top of the thigh bone) is a common problem in children. The condition is called Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease (LCPD). The reason for the blood loss remains unknown.

In this study, bone from the hip of children with LCPD was compared with bone from the hip of children having surgery for hip dysplasia (the control group). The pieces of bone were split into three groups. Each group was tested and analyzed looking for changes from the normal bone in the control group to bone in children with LCPD.

The major difference they found was an increase in the number of lipids (fats) and fatty acids in the resting chondrocytes (cartilage cells). Accumulation of lipids in chondrocytes may be what starts the process of bone degeneration. It's possible the lipids have some kind of role in the metabolism of cartilage cells.

The authors suggest that some change occurs in the microenvironment of the cell. Perhaps there is a loss of oxygen that takes place. Then the cell responds with some metabolic changes. The result is an increase in the lipids in the cartilage.

How the lipids change cartilage function and metabolism will be the subject of future research. There is a suspected role for hereditary factors but the exact link there is still unknown.

References: Hiroshi Kitoh, MD, et al. A Histological and Ultrastructural Study of the Iliac Crest Apophysis in Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease. In Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. June 2008. Vol. 28. No. 4. Pp. 435-439.

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