Target calcium crystal deposits to relieve osteoarthritis knee pain

Calcium crystal deposits in the knee contribute to joint damage and could represent a successful area of treatment, says new research in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Knee osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting around 600 million people worldwide. There are no treatments available that prevent its progression.

Previously, calcium crystal deposits in the joint were thought to be of no clinical importance. But now a team from the US has used new imaging techniques and found that calcium crystal deposits in the knee can actually contribute to worsening of joint damage.

“These findings highlight the important role of calcium crystals to structural damage and symptoms in knee osteoarthritis,” explains Prof Tuhina Neogi who is involved in the research. “Now that this has been identified, we can begin to focus on identifying ways to prevent these crystal deposits from occurring to hopefully relieve pain and limit progression of joint damage.”

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