title: Paired serum and synovial fluid values of alpha 2-macroglobulin and TIMP in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The levels of alpha 2-macroglobulin and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) were determined in paired serum and synovial fluid samples from rheumatoid arthritis patients. Serum levels of alpha 2-macroglobulin (mean 1580 +/- 340 mg/l) were always higher than the corresponding synovial fluid although the spread of synovial fluid levels was broad (mean 520 +/- 340 mg/l). Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases was always higher in synovial fluid (mean 4.59 +/- 1.8 mg/l) than serum (mean 1.3 +/- 0.39 mg/l) indicating that local synthesis occurred within the joint.
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D003012:Microbial Collagenase / Q000378:metabolism; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003012:Microbial Collagenase