A decrease in the molecular weight of hyaluronic acid in synovial fluid from patients with temporomandibular disorders.
BACKGROUND
The molecular weight (MW) of hyaluronic acid (HA) in joints generally declines in inflammatory arthritis. As inflammation exists in certain temporomandibular disorders (TMD), we measured the MW of HA in synovial fluid (SF) recovered from patients with TMD and compared it with that from normal controls.


METHODS
Synovial fluid was obtained from patients with TMD (21 TMJs) and normal controls (5 TMJs). The MW of HA was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).


RESULTS
In the controls, the MW of HA in SF exceeded the detection limit, 3000 kDa. In contrast, 19 (90.5%) of 21 SF samples from patients showed a decreased MW of HA. The median MW of HA (1570 kDa) in TMD was significantly lower than that in the controls (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The MW of HA in SF from patients with TMD is decreased.
Takahashi
Tetsu
T
Second Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kyushu Dental College, Kitakyushu, Japan. tetsu@kyu-dent.ac.jp
Tominaga
Kazuhiro
K
Takano
Hiroshi
H
Ariyoshi
Wataru
W
Habu
Manabu
M
Fukuda
Jinichi
J
Maeda
Hiroshi
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000378:metabolism; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000378:metabolism; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000473:pathology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*
D006820:Hyaluronic Acid