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Pathologic Mineralization in Humans

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Mechanisms and Phylogeny of Mineralization in Biological Systems

Abstract

Physiologic mineralization in humans involves principally the formation of carbonated hydroxyapatite [Ca10(PO4,CO3)6(OH)2, HAP] crystals in bone and teeth [1]. In contrast, pathologic mineralization in humans is more complicated, involving HAP and several other inorganic and organic biominerals. HAP, the most ubiquitous pathologic biomineral, is frequently observed in atherosclerosis, nephrocalcinosis, Chondrocalcinosis and other ectopic calcifications, and in renal and dental calculi. Besides HAP, there are other biologic calcium phosphates including brushite or calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate [CaHPO4.2H2O, Bru], whitlockite or magnesium-substituted tricalcium phosphate [(Ca,Mg)3(PO4)2, Whi] and octacalcium phosphate [Ca8H2(PO4)6.5H2O, OCP]. These biominerals are less frequently observed and are mainly found in renal and dental calculi [2 – 6]. Other important calcium containing biominerals are triclinic (T) and monoclinic (M) calcium pyrophosphate dihydrates [Ca2P2O7.2H2O, CPPD], calcium oxalate monohydrate [CaC2O4.H2O, COM] and dihydrate [CaC2O4.2H2O, COD], and three forms of calcium carbonate [CaCO3]. CPPD(T) and CPPD(M) are commonly associated with Chondrocalcinosis or pseudogout in the aged [7]. COM and COD are commonly observed in renal calculi [3], but will also deposit in other tissues in patients suffering primary or secondary oxalosis. Although calcium carbonate has been reported as a rare renal stone component, it is mainly observed in gallstones, together with cholesterol and calcium bilirubinate [8]. A non-calcium phosphate frequently observed in renal stones formed during infections is struvite or magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate [MgNH4PO4.6H2O] [3]. Important organic biominerals include monosodium urate or sodium acid urate monohydrate [C5H3N4NaO3.H2O, MSU], ammonium acid urate [C5H3N4NH4O3, AAU], uric acid [C5H4N4O3, UA] and uric acid dihydrate [C5H4N4O3.2H2O, UAD]. AAU, UA and UAD are commonly observed in renal calculi [3].

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, M5G 1X5

    P.-T. Cheng

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  1. P.-T. Cheng
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, The Nippon Dental University School of Dentistry at Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102, Japan

    Shoichi Suga (Professor) (Professor)

  2. Department of Oral Anatomy, Meikai Univesity School of Dentistry, Sakado, Saitama, 350-02, Japan

    Hiroshi Nakahara (Associate Professor) (Associate Professor)

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© 1991 Springer-Verlag Tokyo

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Cheng, PT. (1991). Pathologic Mineralization in Humans. In: Suga, S., Nakahara, H. (eds) Mechanisms and Phylogeny of Mineralization in Biological Systems. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-68132-8_40

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-68132-8_40

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-68134-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-68132-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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