Bacteriolytic and bactericidal activity of sera and synovial fluids in rheumatoid arthritis and in osteoarthritis

Abstract

Bacteriolytic and bactericidal activity was evaluated in sera and synovial fluids of 28 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 13 patients with osteoarthritis. An attempt was made to correlate the results with the concentrations of the total hemolytic complement, lysozyme, immunoglobulins, transferrin, and the titer of the Latex fixation. Bacteriolytic activity in all but 5 hypocomplementemic rheumatoid sera and in all osteoarthritic sera was normal. There was a correlation (P = 0.01) between bacteriolytic activity and the level of complement, but not the level of other factors or the titer of the Latex fixation. Bacteriolytic activity in the rheumatoid and osteoarthritic synovial fluids was low, being respectively four times and two times weaker than in the corresponding sera. It correlated well only with the level of complement (P < 0.01). Bactericidal activity of rheumatoid and osteoarthritic sera was normal but was very significantly decreased in the synovial fluids, being respectively 10 times weaker and four times weaker than in the corresponding sera. The only positive correlation was found between bactericidal activity and the complement level (P < 0.01). There was no correlation between the titer of the Latex fixation and the level of the total hemolytic complement either in serum or in synovial fluids. The influence of 6 antiarthritic drugs on antibacterial activity was tested by addition of drugs to the normal human serum. There was no change in bacteriolytic activity, however bacterial growth was inhibited when high concentrations of drugs were mixed with the culture medium. infection, namely phagocyte related and antibacterial humoral activity, the former It has long been known that infection

Antibacterial Properties of Synovial Fluid in the Knee

“…11 Recent studies have suggested synovial fluid also may contribute to a joint's innate defense against certain microbial infections, primarily those caused by gram-negative organisms. 6,15 However, the specific immunologic properties and protective mechanisms of synovial fluid against common gram-positive bacterial pathogens that are encountered clinically remain largely unknown.…”

Staphylococcal Persistence Due to Biofilm Formation in Synovial Fluid Containing Prophylactic Cefazolin

“…Alternative prophylactic antibiotics include fusidic acid, cloxacillin (11), cefixime (12), vancomycin, and gentamicin (13). Interestingly, synovial fluid has been suggested to possess antibacterial properties (14)(15)(16) that are attributed to hyaluronic acid within the synovial fluid (17), the induction of bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (15), or unknown compounds, including antimicrobial peptides, within the synovial fluid (14). We recently reported that this ostensible decrease in bacterial numbers, which is perceived to be an "antibacterial" effect, is actually due to the clumping of bacteria within synovial fluid, which masks the true microbial load levels (18).…”

Biological effects of secretory phospholipase A2 group IIA on lipoproteins and in atherogenesis

“…With regularity serum activities correlate positively with the severity of the disease. Elevated serum levels can also be observed in chronic rheumatoid arthritis [76,77], multiple injuries [74,78,79], postoperative states [80], and in neoplastic diseases [81]. Locally increased enzyme activities can be found in inflamed tissues, in inflammatory exudates, and in malignant tumours [82–86].…”