PRELIMINARY-STUDY OF THE TRYPTASE LEVELS IN THE SYNOVIAL-FLUID OF PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY ARTHRITIS

This study examined levels of tryptase, a specific mast cell product, in synovial fluid. Samples of synovial fluid from eight patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ten with other arthritides were measured in s olid-phase immunoradiometric assays. Elevated concentrations of trypta se were present in samples from three patients with rheumatoid arthrit is, one with psoriasis, and one with Reiter's syndrome. The data suppo rt the theory that mast cell activation is involved in the pathogenesi s in some inflammatory joint diseases, but activation does not appear to be disease specific.