INTERLEUKIN-8 (IL-8) IN SYNOVIAL-FLUID OF RHEUMATOID AND NONRHEUMATOID JOINT EFFUSIONS

IL-8 was measured in knee joint synovial fluid of 60 patients with rhe umatoid arthritis, 8 with gout, 6 with osteoarthritis and 4 with menis cus lesions. IL-8 could be demonstrated in most SF samples. The highes t levels were observed in rheumatoid joint effusions, yet mean levels were not significantly different between the different subgroups (mean +/- SE; RA 1537 +/- 3049 pg/ml, gout 570 +/- 952 pg/ml, OA/ML 178 +/- 188 pg/ml). In RA patients, IL-8 levels could not be related to vario us serological, clinical or radiological parameters. However, a correl ation was observed between SF levels of IL-8 with those of lactate, LD H, beta 2-microglobulin and glucose. These observations suggest that n ext to the laboratory parameters IL-8 will be a parameter of the activ ity of the local inflammatory process. The results also demonstrate th at IL-8 is not a disease-specific marker of joint inflammation.