[Cholesterol crystals in synovial fluid in patients with rheumatoid arthritis may be linked with a poor prognosis].
We report two cases of cholesterol crystals (CC) in synovial fluid (SF) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Injection of triamcinolone had satisfactory effect on the bursitis in one patient which is in contrast to previous reports. Both patients died short after presentation. There is evidence suggesting that RA synovium is more permeable to low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein than healthy synovium. It has been hypothesised that the cholesterol lowering statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) might have an anti-inflammatory effect in RA.
, Reumatologisk Afdeling, Sygehus Vendsyssel, Hjørring, Bispensgade 37, 9800 Hjørring. s.joergensen@rn.dk.
Steen Hylgaard
SH
Jørgensen
Claus
C
Rasmussen
Jakob
J
Espesen
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D003460:Crystallization; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D011379:Prognosis; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*
D002784:Cholesterol