Clinical significance of gelatinases in septic arthritis of native and replaced knees.
We hypothesized that more gelatinases appear in effusions of septic arthritis than aseptic arthritis. This study examined the laboratory variables of inflammation and the levels of gelatinase A and B (matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9) in 75 effusions from the knees of 37 patients with inflammatory arthritis and compared them with effusions of septic and aseptic arthritis. Gelatin zymography revealed that the levels of the latent matrix metalloproteinase-9 were higher in 24 effusions of septic arthritis than in 51 effusions of aseptic arthritis. The latent matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels of septic arthritis also correlated with the neutrophil counts in effusions. Significantly more activated matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 appeared in effusions of septic arthritis in native and replaced knees than in effusions of aseptic arthritis. A high matrix metalloproteinase-9 level and the appearance of activated matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 may distinguish septic from aseptic arthritis, even in cases with a low neutrophil count in the replaced knee. Joint aspiration may not only reduce the bacteria counts, endotoxins, and proinflammatory cytokines, but also decrease the amount of matrix metalloproteinases in effusions that attack the extracellular matrix of native and artificial joints.
Chu
Shu-Chen
SC
Department of Food Science, Chungtai Institute of Health Sciences and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan.
Yang
Shun-Fa
SF
Lue
Ko-Huang
KH
Hsieh
Yih-Shou
YS
Lin
Zong-I
ZI
Lu
Ko-Hsiu
KH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001168:Arthritis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000601:surgery; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000201:enzymology / Q000601:surgery; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged
D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9