A case of patient with cholesterol crystals that caused arthritis around an artificial knee joint piece (titanium)

Abstract

Synovial fluid is a viscous extracellular fluid containing proteins produced by the synovium in addition to plasma-derived proteins. Although some pathologic crystals, such as monosodium urate in cases of gout or calcium pyrophosphate in pseudo-gout, are found in the synovial fluid, it is rare that cholesterol crystals are detected in the synovial fluid. We report the case of a patient with cholesterol crystals found in the synovial fluid who underwent left artificial knee joint replacement due to osteoarthritis xx years ago. In our patient, it was postulated that the accumulation of cholesterol crystals was caused by repeated tissue destruction due to abrasion by the artificial joint.