Summary
Biopsy specimens of the synovial membrane were obtained during arthroscopy and surgical meniscectomy from the knees of 20 patients with meniscus lesions. The aim of this study was to identify the morphological and immunological changes which appear in the synovium during the earliest phase of osteoarthrosis. Interstitial deposits of IgG and, in some cases, C3 were found not only in patients with evident arthrotic degeneration (cartilaginous lesions and synovitis), but also in patients who showed no overt arthrotic changes. Furthermore, light and electron microscopy showed an increased number of mast-cells with peculiar semilunar or piecemeal aspects of their secretory granules. These ultrastructural modifications are characteristic of slow, chronic release of mediators in response to a constant, moderate degranulatory stimulus. Our findings suggest that synovial changes may occur before the advent of cartilage degenertion and that the latter may be directly influenced by early pathological changes in the synovial membrane.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arnoldi, C.C., Reiman, I., Bretlan, P. The synovial membrane in human coxarthrosis. Clin Orthop 1980, 148, 213–220.
Boni, M., Berlanda, P., Lenzi, L. Experimental production of arthritis by intra-articular injection of Vitamin A in rabbits. In: XII Congres International de Rhumatologie, Prague, 1969 (abs).
Boni, M., Magrassi, B., Aureli, G., Rizzotti, M., Balduini, C. Correlazione fra artrosi sperimentale a artrosi umana. In: IV Congres Latin de Rhumatologie, Liège, (Belgique), 1980 (abs.).
Caulfield, J.P., Hein, A., Dynesins-Trentham M.S., Trentham D.E. Morphologic demonstration of two stages in the development of type II colagen-induced arthritis. Lab Invest 1982, 46, 321, 343.
Gardner, D.L. The nature and causes of osteoarthrosis. Br Med J, 1983, 286, 418–424.
Gedikoglu, O., Bayliss, M.T., Ali, S.Y., Tuncer, I. Biochemical and histological changes in osteoarthritic synovial membrane. Ann Rheum Dis 1986, 45, 289–292.
Goldwasser, M.B., Asteley, T., Van der Rest, M., Glorieux, F.H. Analysis of the type of collagen present in osteoarthrotic human cartilage. Clin Orthop, 1982, 167, 296–302.
Guiraudon, C., Delbarre, F. Aspect anatomopathologique des synoviales arthrosiques. Rev Rhum 1970, 37, 125–127.
Jubb, R.W., Foll, B.H. Changes resembling ostoearthrosis induced by the used culture medium of synovium in organ culture — The etiopathogenesis of osteoarthrosis. Editor: Nuki, G., London, Pitman, 1980, 139–143.
Kops, S.R., Van Loveren, H., Rosenstein, R.W., Ptak, W., Askenase, P.W. Mast cel activation and vascular alterations in immediate hypersensitivity-like reactions induced B a T-cell derived antigen-binding factor. Lab Invest, 1984, 50, 421–434.
Mitrovic, D. Physiopathologie de l'arthrose. Rev Rhum, 1984, 51, 289–294.
Mosckovitz, R.W., Kresina, T.F. Immunoglobulin and complement deposition in cartilage in experimental osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol 1985, 28, 4 (supplement), S73, C46.
Peyron, J., Peltir, A.P. Inflammation et arthrose. S. DeSeze, A. Ryckewaert, M.F. Kahn, Cl. Guerin. In: L'Actualite' Rhumatologique 1979, Paris, Expansion Scientifique, 1980, 162–170.
Roux, H., Gaborit, P., Mompeyssin, P., Garbe, L., Casanova, P., Payan, H. Immunofluorescence de la membrane synoviale. Rev. Rhum 1981, 48, 787–792.
Roy, S. Ultrastructure of synovial membrane in osteoarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 1967, 26, 517–527.
Swierstra, B.A. Experimental arthrosis. Acta Orthop Scand 1983, 54, 317–321.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cantatore, F.P., Benazzo, F., Ribatti, D. et al. Early alteration of synovial membrane in osteoarthrosis. Clin Rheumatol 7, 214–219 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02204457
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02204457