Concentrations of trace elements in osteoarthritic knee-joint effusions

Concentrations of the 18 elements, barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), bismuth (Bi ), calcium (Ca), cadmium (Cd), cesium (Cs), copper (Cu), lanthanum (La), li thium (Li), magnesium (Mg), molybdenum (Mo), lead (Pb), rubidium (Rb), anti mony (Sb), tin (Sn), strontium (Sr), thallium (Tl), and zinc (Zn), were det ermined in the synovial fluids of osteoarthritic knee joints and in the cor responding sera of 16 patients by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrome try. Knee-joint effusions have lower elemental concentrations than their co rresponding sera. For the essential elements Ca, Cu, Mg, and Zn and for the nonessential and toxic elements Ba, Be, Bi, La, and Sb, this difference wa s highly significant. Strong positive correlations between concentrations i n effusions and sera for the essential elements Cw and Mg and for the nones sential elements Cs, Li, Rb, and Sr could be established. The grade of loca lized hyperperfusion of the knee region in the blood pool phase of Tc-99m H DP bone scan indicating inflammation did not correlate with any elemental c oncentration determined.