[Studies on proteins of the synovial fluid in degenerative and inflammatory joint diseases]

Changes in the synovial fluid caused by osmic Acid

27 rheumatic patients with knee joint hydrops were studied for the effect of osmic acid on the synovial fluid. Special interest was taken in synovial leucocyte counts and electrophoretic patterns. A leucopenia preceded the leucocytosis in the synovial samples; both were thought to be induced by osmium. A precipitate formation from hyaluronate was thought to account for the leucopenia and this suggests a new hypothesis of osmic acid action. In the electrophoretic patterns there was a change in the electric charges of proteins. One week after osmic acid injection the pattern was normal.

A comparative study of the protein pattern in serum and synovial fluid

A routine program for evaluation of the protein pattern in serum and synovial fluid has been tested on 25 patients in a consecutive study. The program comprised agar gel electrophoresis, total protein and albumin determination, and immunochemical determination of antitrypsin, orosomucoid, haptoglobin, IgR, and IgA. Linear correlation analysis of corresponding data in serum and synovial fluid gave r-values for the five latter components which varied from 0.74 to 0.87. On this basis reference intervals in synovial fluid could be established. Total protein, haptoglobin and IgG were elevated in rheumatoid arthritis, compared with osteoarthritis.