title: Pachydermoperiostosis: studies on the synovium.
abstract: Pachydermoperiostosis (primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy) is a familial disorder characterized by clubbing, periosteal bone changes, and furrowing of the skin. A 40 year old male with this syndrome and chronic arthritis was recently studied. The synovial fluid was non-inflammatory. Histologically the synovium exhibited hyperplasia and microvascular alterations. Immunofluorescent staining failed to identify deposits of immunoglobulin. Electron microscopy revealed multilayered basement laminae around small subsynovial blood vessels but no electron-dense deposits as described in studies of hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy. The pathogenesis is obscure and appears to be non-immunological.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010005:Osteoarthropathy, Secondary Hypertrophic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure