Protein concentration of synovial fluid in chronic rheumatoid arthritis. Estimation of protein in the synovial fluid of chronic rheumatoid arthritis by gel filtration and paper electrophoresis

For the purpose to reveal the characteris6cs of the synovial fluid of the chronic rheumatoid arthritis the proteins of the synovial fluid and blood serum have been analysed by employing the methods of electrophoresis, gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 column and ultracentrifugation. Waaler-Rose test and latex fixation test have also been made on each protein fraction, and the following results were obtained. 1) The total protein level of synovial fluid, which is 3/5 of that of the serum, is slightly higher than that of control. 2) Fractionation of the synovial proteins by electrophoresis revealed nearly the same protein contents in each fraction in percentage as that of comparable fraction of the serum protein, with a slight increase in γ-globulin fraction. 3) The fractionation by Sephadex column G-200 give three peaks both in serum and synovial fluid, 19 S, 7Sand 4S. 4) 19S fraction of the synovial fluid, which is mainly of γ-globulin, showed a higher level than that of the synovial fluid from the controls. 5) Rheumatoid tests gave positive reaction in the 1st peak containing 19S γ-globulin from the synovial fluid and blood serum.