No abstract

1. The concentration of hyaluronic acid in synovial fluid was determined by a modification of the Dische carbazole method for the determination of uronic acids. 2. The results of this determination in 80 specimens of normal and abnormal synovial fluid confirmed values reported by other methods. 3. An inverse relationship between the hyaluronic acid in the synovial fluid and the degree of synovitis was suggested.

The distribution of proteins and glyco-proteins in the synovial fluid and serum of normal patients and those with rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic diseases is presented. Joint disease tends to result in similar concentrations of protein in both serum and synovial fluid. Of particular interest is the distribution of alphaz glycoprotein. The relative concentration of this high molecular weight substance between serum and synovial fluid seems to be a most sensitive index of the semipermeability of the synovial membrane. Es presentate le distribution de pro-teinas e glycoproteinas in le liquido synovial e in le sero de subjectos normal e de patientes con arthritis rheumatoide e con altere morbos rheumatic. Morbo articular tende a monstrar simile con-centrationes de proteina in le sero e in le liquido synovial. De interesse particular es le distribution de glyco-proteina alphaz. Le concentration relative de iste substantia a alte peso molecular in le sero e in le liquido synovial pare esser un sensibilissime indice del semipermeabilitate del mem-brana synovial. HIS REPORT presents the results of a comparison of the distribution of T P roteins and glycoproteins, determined by zone electrophoresis, of the serum and synovial fluid of 10 patients without rheumatic disease and 71 patients with certain rheumatic diseases. The electrophoretic distribution of protein in the synovial fluid1 and a comparison of serum and synovial fluid proteins have been It has been shown that the synovial fluid in traumatic arthritis in comparison to serum from the same patient has a higher relative concentration of albumin (as a fraction of the total protein) and a lower relative concentration of globulin (as a fraction of the total protein). In rheumatic diseases with systemic reactions the synovial fluid globulins increase relatively more than the synovial fluid albumin; as a result, when expressed as a percentage of the total protein in synovial fluid (relative concentration), albumin decreases while globulins increase. Changes in distribution of proteins in synovial fluid quantitatively exceed any changes in distribution of proteins in serum. From the Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundotion, Rochester, Minn. Abridgment of portion of thesis submitted by Dr. Decker to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the Uniuersity of Minncsotu in partial fulfillment of the rcquirernents for the degree of Master of Science in Medicine. The Mayo Foundation (Rochester, Minn.) is a part of the Graduate School of the Unioerdty of Minnesota. The authors would like to acknowledgc the technical assktance of Mr. Curtis Dunlap, Mr. Richard Goodwin and Mr. Sanford Ward. Ths authors are also indebted to the Section of Rheumtology and the Section of Orthopedics for their continuous cooperation and interest.

Modification of the Köiw and Grönwall procedure for the staining of glycoproteins separated by paper electrophoresis has adapted this method to papers of the Whatman 3MM class, with achievement of results comparable to those reported by direct chemical determination of hexose in the individual protein fractions. Preliminary concentration of specimen fluids was achieved by ultrafiltration through collodion sacks. A preliminary wash of the oven-dried paper strips with 95 per cent ethanol was found essential to clear the paper of buffer salts and insure that the pH in the oxidation procedure remained in the 3.0-3.5 range. Close control of the reagent composition and timing of each step were found necessary. Inclusion of 40 per cent ethanol in the oxidation bath and immersion of dry strips were required to insure rapid penetration of the periodic acid. Control of the oxidation procedure at 20 ± 0.5° for 12 minutes was of prime necessity to maintain a low background color. Also, the concentrations of hydrochloric acid in the dye bath and in the wash solutions were found to affect the quality of the final stain. The ethanol wash served to remove residual sulfite and hydrochloric acid and stabilize the color. The new method has been applied to the analysis of several body fluids of normal persons and patients with certain disease entities, and satisfactory glycoprotein distribution patterns have been obtained.