The changes of nitric oxide and hemorheology in steroid-induced avas-cular necrosis of femoral head

Objective: To explore the pathogenesis of avascular necrosis of femoral head (ANFH), the early diagnosis index and the treatment effective index of ANFH in clinical practice. Methods: Twenty-four Japanese rabbits were divided into 2 groups: model group and control group. ANFH models were produced by intramuscular injection of large dosage of steroid to rabbits for 8 weeks. On the 4 th, 8 th week after the injection, two rabbits each time from each group were taken to observe the structure of femoral head by light microscope and scanning electron microscope. Four other stomach-empty rabbits from each group were also used to test the contents of Nitric Oxide (NO), contents of the hemorheology indexes. Results: Compared with the control group, the rabbits in the model group exhibited osteoporosis of femoral head and more bone lacuna and more fat cells through light microscope. Through scanning electron microscope observation bone trabecula were broken and sunk, and collagen fibers on the surface of bone matrix became loosen and broken, more osteocyte had pyknosis, adipocyte in the medullary cavity were enlarged and subchondral arterioles and capillaries of the femoral head were pressed by adipocyte. Compared with the control group, the model rabbits contained less NO and obvious increase of the plasma viscosity (PV), low blood viscosity (LBV), erythrocyte hematocrit (HCT), indices of erythrocyte rigidity (TK) and indices of erythrocyte aggregation (AI), plasma fibrin level (PFL) (P<0. 01) and an increase of erythrocyte electrophoresis rate (ERT) (P< 0.05). High blood viscosity (HBV), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were unchanged. Conclusion: The steroid-induced ANFH might be related to less NO and the abnormal hemorheology; and NO and hemorheology should be considered as an early diagnosis index for ANFH in clinical practice.