title: Correlation between arthroscopic diagnosis of osteoarthritis and synovitis of the human temporomandibular joint and keratan sulfate levels in the synovial fluid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The specific aims of this investigation were to determine if there is a relationship between an arthroscopic diagnosis of synovitis and osteoarthritis, and if the presence of synovitis influences the level of cartilage degradation, as evidenced by keratan sulfate levels in the synovial fluid.
  
  
  METHODS
  Arthroscopic surgery was performed on 114 temporomandibular joints in 88 patients who had significant pain or dysfunction and whose condition had failed to improve with conservative treatment. Synovial fluid aspirates were obtained immediately before arthroscopy and used for the determination of keratan sulfate levels. Arthroscopic examination included assessment of the presence or absence of osteoarthritis and synovitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Synovitis was present in 90% of joints, and osteoarthritis was present in 62% of joints examined arthroscopically. Both osteoarthritis and synovitis existed in 57% of the joints. Joints with an arthroscopic diagnosis of synovitis had significantly lower levels of keratan sulfate in the synovial fluid aspirates than joints with osteoarthritis. Synovial fluid aspirates from temporomandibular joints with osteoarthritis had significantly higher levels of keratan sulfate than synovial fluids from joints without osteoarthritis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Osteoarthritis and synovitis are common diagnoses and are often present concurrently in patients with symptomatic temporomandibular joints. Osteoarthritis is associated with elevated keratan sulfate levels; however, the elevation of keratan sulfate is less in patients with concomitant synovitis.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Israel
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Diamond
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saed-Nejad
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ratcliffe
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007632:Keratan Sulfate / Q000032:analysis*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D019152:Paracentesis; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D013585:Synovitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000378:metabolism; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007632:Keratan Sulfate