Circulating and synovial fluid hyaluronan levels. Effects of intraarticular corticosteroid on the concentration and the rate of turnover.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of intraarticular (IA) corticosteroid on hyaluronan (HA) concentrations in synovial fluid (SF) and serum and the clearance of 131I-labeled albumin from the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).


METHODS
SF and serum were collected before and 2 weeks and 2 months after IA steroid injection. The HA concentration was assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and 131I-albumin clearance from joints was assessed using an external gamma counter.


RESULTS
In RA patients, HA concentrations in the SF were increased following IA steroids, while the serum concentrations were decreased. In OA patients, HA concentrations in SF tended to increase initially (decreasing thereafter), and were associated with increased HA concentrations in serum. There were less marked alterations in the AS patients. Albumin clearance rates were decreased significantly (2 weeks postinjection) only in the RA patients. Estimated HA flux revealed discrepancies between the HA concentration and the rate of flux in RA and AS patients.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that IA steroid injection is associated with a restoration in the relationship between SF and serum HA concentrations toward normal levels.
Pitsillides
A A
AA
University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, London, UK.
Will
R K
RK
Bayliss
M T
MT
Edwards
J C
JC
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood*; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000418:Albumins; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D002097:C-Reactive Protein