Abstract.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the biochemical characteristics of synovial fluids after treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with intra-articularly injected hyaluronate (HA).¶Treatment: In a double-blind study, 13 patients received intra-articular injections of 1% HA in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) while 13 other patients were injected 0.01% HA in PBS, as the control group. Injections were administered once a week for five weeks.¶Methods: Clinical efficacy and characteristics of synovial fluid were compared between groups.¶Results: Significant clinical improvement was observed in the HA-treated group compared to the control group. The viscosity of retained synovial fluid increased. Stringing and HA concentration increased significantly whereas the concentrations of protein and chondroitin sulfate 4 and 6 decreased significantly. The HA molecular weight remained the same in both groups.¶Conclusion: Intra-articular HA injection altered the properties of synovial fluid and proved efficacious for patients with RA.
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Received 10 April 1998; returned for revision 19 July 1998; returned for final revision 31 October 1998; accepted by M. Katori 1 December 1998
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Matsuno, H., Yudoh, K., Kondo, M. et al. Biochemical effect of intra-articular injections of high molecular weight hyaluronate in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Inflamm. res. 48, 154–159 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s000110050439
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s000110050439