Thirteen patients (16 joints) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and twenty patients (27 joints) with osteo arthritis (OA) were examined for their synovial fluids.
Results were as follows:
1) Lipid peroxide level in synovial from RA patients showed a significant increase compared with that from OA patients.
2) β-glucuronidase activity in synovial fluid from RA patients showed markedly increase compared with that from OA patients.
3) A well correlation was seen between lipid peroxide level and β-glucuronidase activity (r=0.70) in synovial fluid from RA patients, but there were a few patients who showed high level of lipid peroxide in spite of their low β-glucuronidase activity.
4) The correlated increase in lipid peroxide level and β-glucuronidase activity was seen in progressive stage of RA joint destruction.
5) Complement titers (CH 50, C3, C4) in synovial fluid from RA patients showed significant decrease compared with that in serum, but there was no correlation between complement titers and serum rheumatoid factor, CRP test, and G. S. R.
