Abstract
1) Analysis of synovial fluid were made in 115 specimens from patient with degenerative joint disease, 8 with traumatic arthritis, 2 with hydropsy and 32 with rheumatoid arthritis.
2) The agar gel electrophoresis showed marked elevation in LDH-5 in the fluid of various types of arthritis.
3) The LDH isozyme patterns of non-inflammatory articular synovial fluid showed elevation in LDH-2 and LDH-5, but isozyme patterns were resembling those of normal serum except the elevated LDH-5.
4) The differnet isozyme patterns were obtained from rheumatoid arthrits. In these, LDH-5 (Cathodal band) showed very elevated peak and LDH-4 usually next, followed by LDH-3, LDH-2, LDH-1.
5) Since the isozyme patterns of these synovial fluid resembled with that of leucocytes, the elevated LDH activity of the joint fluid might have its source in white cells. However the elevation of LDH activity in synovial fluid is not proportional to the number of white cells. Perhaps the synovial membrane structure may reflect in synovial fluid isozymes.
