Synovial fluid markers in osteoarthritis

Exploration of the mechanisms responsible for breakdown and repair of artic ular cartilage in osteoarthritis has promoted interest in the potential use of cartilage-derived molecules as markers of cartilage metabolism in this disease. Many of the macromolecules detectable in synovial fluid have been evaluated as possible surrogate markers of the severity or activity of dise ase processes. Measurements of the synovial fluid concentration of any mark er without due consideration of the fate of the molecule in the joint cavit y are likely to be misleading and insufficient to cement a relationship bet ween marker concentration and the severity of articular pathology.