123I-antileukoproteinase scintigraphy reveals microscopic cartilage alterations in the contralateral knee joint of rats with “monarticular” antigen-induced arthritis

Abstract

Loss of ALP accumulation appears to document proteoglycan depletion, even in the microscopically altered cartilage of the contralateral knee joint in AIA. These findings underscore the high sensitivity of 123I-ALP for in vivo detection of biochemical cartilage alterations in arthritis, and furthermore, question the use of the contralateral knee joint as a normal control in AIA.