Cartilage-derived biomarkers of osteoarthritis in synovial fluid of dogs with naturally acquired rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament.

Objective: To compare synovial fluid biomarkers of cartilage metabolism in joints with naturally acquired or experimentally induced cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture and determine correlations with stage and severity of disease in dogs.

Animals: 95 dogs with ruptured CCL, 8 dogs with experimentally ruptured CCL, and 24 healthy dogs.

Procedures: Synovial fluid was assayed for chondroitin sulfate neo-epitopes 3B3(-) and 7D4 and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentration.