Routine Analysis and Immunoglobulin Quantitation of Joint Fluid in Chronic Arthritis Patients

Kim, N H; Kang, K S; Ahn, J I; Oh, H Y; Kang, Y S

Abstract

The swelling of arthritic joints due to fluid accumulation is the major pathologic changes in several arthritis condition. The fluid from selected patients were analysed for routine examination and immunogiobulins in the fluid were also quantitatlvely studled to evaluate their diagnostic value upon clinical application. Following are the summary of the study: 1. Forty seven cases who registered or were admitted to Wonju Christian Hospital with a complaint of Joint swelling were selected and the joint fluid were aseptically collected for studies. 2. Among thoses, 11 were diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis, and 7 as nonspecific synovitis, 18 as degenerative arthritis, and 7 as traumatic arthritis respectively. Four remainders were diagnosed to have 4 dlfferent diseases, l.e., gout, tuberculosis, chondromalacia and pyogenic arthritis. 3. By routine analysis of joint fluids from the patients with degeneratlve, traumatic arthritis and chondromalacia, all of them were classified into the group of noninflammatory fluld and the patients with rheumatoid, gouty arthritis were classified into the inflammatory fluid group and the patients with tuberculosis and pyogenic arthritis were classified into the group of infectious fluid. 4. The level of total protein in the fluid from almost all cases was increased. 5. In most of the cases with chronic arthritis, the elevated level of Ig G and Ig M were noticed, especially in the case of rheumatoid arthritis those Ievel were markedly elevated. 6. In the cases of rheumatoid and traumatic arthritis, the level of Ig A was elevated compared to normal although it was decreased In degenerative and nonspecific synovitis. 7. The average levels of all classes of immunoglobulins were found to be higher in rheumatoid arthritis than that in degenerative arthritis. Although these results from the analysis of the joint fluid of the study cases appeared to be associated with their specific symptoms of each type of arthritis It was also noticed that it can not be applied in clinical appllcations to provide conclusion and definite diagnosis of arthritis.