RELATION BETWEEN INTRAARTICULAR TEMPERATURE OF THE ARTHRITIC TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT AND PRESENCE OF CALCITONIN-GENE-RELATED PEPTIDE IN THEJOINT FLUID - A CLINICAL-STUDY

Arthritic temporomandibular joints were investigated for intra-articul ar temperature and joint fluid content of calcitonin gene-related pept ide. Eleven patients (16 joints) with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, or chronic unspecific polyarthritis or monarthritis participated in the study. The intra-articular temper ature varied between 35.5 and 37.5-degrees-C, with a mean of 36.5-degr ees-C. The concentration of calcitonin gene-related peptide varied bet ween 7.5 and 749.0 pmol/l, with a mean of 108.6 pmol/l. There was a po sitive correlation between the intra-articular temperature and the joi nt fluid concentration of calcitonin gene-related peptide. The plasma level of the peptide was on an average 5% of the joint fluid level.