An Orientating Study on the Synovial Fluid with Reference to the Effect of Compound F

SummaryEffusions from knee joints of rheumatoid arthritic patients were studied before and after intra-articular application of hydrocortisone.In more severe cases the intrinsic viscosity was abnormally low and the potassium level was high. In many large effusions the sodium concentration was increased. The treatment caused a decrease in the sodium and potassium levels, but none in the chloride levels. The water-binding capacity was decreased. The low intrinsic viscosity was markedly augmented by the hydrocortisone treatment.Hydrocortisone exerted no significant changes in the polysaccharide levels nor in the total protein concentration. The reactive amino groups and protein glucosamine were decreased by the hydrocortisone action. The electrophoretic changes were small. The acetone-soluble fraction was increased and new components were observed.