Changes of synovial fluid protein concentrations in supra-patellar bursitis patients after the injection of different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid.
Knee pain is commonly seen in orthopedic and rehabilitation outpatient clinical settings, and in the aging population. Bursitis of the knee joint, especially when the volume of the synovial fluid is large enough, can compress and distend the nearby soft tissues, causing pain in the knee joint. Out of all the bursae surrounding the knee joint, supra-patellar bursitis is most often associated with knee pain. Treatment strategies in managing supra-patellar bursitis include the aspiration of joint synovial fluid and then followed by steroid injection into the bursa. When supra-patellar bursitis is caused by degenerative disorders, the concept of viscosupplementation treatment may be effective by injecting hyaluronic acid into the bursa. However, the rheology or the changes in the concentrations of proteins (biomarkers) that are related to the development of bursitis in the synovial fluid is virtually unexplored. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the concentration changes in the synovial fluid total protein amount and individual proteins associated with supra-patellar bursitis using the Bradford protein assay and western immunoglobulin methods. A total of 20 patients were divided into two groups with 10 patients in each group. One group received the high molecular weight hyaluronic acid product of Synvisc Hylan G-F 20 and the other group received the low molecular weight hyaluronic acid product of Hya-Joint Synovial Fluid Supplement once per week injection into the bursa for a total of 3 weeks. Significant decreases in the synovial fluid total protein concentrations were observed after the second dosage of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid injections. Apolipoprotein A-I, interleukin 1 beta, alpha 1 antitrypsin, and matrix metalloproteinase 1 proteins revealed a trend of decreasing western immunoblotting band densities after hyaluronic acid injections. The decreases in apolipoprotein A-I and interleukin 1 beta protein band densities were significant in the high molecular weight hyaluronic acid injection group. Transthyretin, complement 5, and matrilin 3 proteins revealed a trend of increasing western immunoblotting band densities after hyaluronic acid injections. Transthyretin revealed significant increases in protein band densities in both the high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid injection groups. This study may provide the rationale for targeting several biomarkers associated with lipid transport, inflammation, and anti-aging as possible disease modifying therapies for the treatment of supra-patellar bursitis and even degenerative joint disorders.
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan County, Taiwan. Electronic address: carlchendr@gmail.com.
Carl P C
CP
Chen
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Keelung and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan County, Taiwan.
Chih Chin
CC
Hsu
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan County, Taiwan.
Yu-Cheng
YC
Pei
Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Keele University, Staffordshire, United Kingdom.
Ruo Li
RL
Chen
Department of Life Science, Institute of Biomedical and Environment Science and Technology, University of Bedfordshire, Luton, United Kingdom.
Shaobo
S
Zhou
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan County, Taiwan.
Hsuan-Chen
HC
Shen
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan County, Taiwan.
Shih-Cherng
SC
Lin
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan County, Taiwan.
Wen Chung
WC
Tsai
D000368:Aged; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000032:analysis; D002062:Bursitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007719:Knee Joint; D008297:Male; D064235:Matrilin Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010329:Patella; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; C577545:MATN3 protein, human; D064235:Matrilin Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid
Biomarkers; Hyaluronic acid; Osteoarthritis; Protein; Supra-patellar bursitis; Viscosupplementation; Western immunoblotting