Examination of synovial fluid and serum hyaluronidase activity as a joint marker in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis patients (by zymography)

Objective-Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an important joint marker and the substra te for hyaluronidase (HAase). Synovial fluid (SF) and serum HAase were meas ured to investigate the potential use of HAase as a joint marker in rheumat oid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Methods-The subjects were 39 patients with RA and 42 patients with OA. HAas e activity was measured by zymography and its relation with various paramet ers examined statistically. Results-In RA SF a positive correlation (r=0.458, p=0.0186) was found betwe en SF HAase activity and the concentration of serum C reactive protein. A p ositive correlation (r=0.45, p=0.024) was also found between SF HAase activ ity and platelet count in the RA group. Serum HAase activity in the RA grou p was significantly higher than in the OA group (p<0.0001) and normal contr ols (p<0.0001). Conclusion-The results suggest that SF HAase activity could be used as a ma rker of synovial inflammation.