[Measurement of keratan sulfate levels in synovial fluid in joint diseases]

The authors describe their own modification of the ELISA method for the assessment of the epitope of keratate sulphate (KS) in synovial fluid. Considerably elevated values of KS were found in patients with gouty arthritis and reactive arthritis, as compared with patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The KS levels in the exudate of patients with osteoarthritis were significantly higher than in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis a negative relationship was found between the KS level in the exudate and the activity of the disease. A relationship was found between KS in the exudate and the interleukin-1 level in the exudate. Finally the authors discuss the importance of assessment of cartilage fragments in body fluids by immunochemical methods and future development trends of this discipline.