Synovial fluid studies in navicular disease.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate biochemical changes in synovial fluid in navicular disease, and to establish if synovial fluid from the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) could be used diagnostically to assess alterations in the synovial fluid of the navicular bursa. Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), total glycosaminoglycans (GAG), hyaluronan (HA), metalloproteinases 2 and -9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and total protein (TP) levels were determined in synovial fluids obtained from 18 navicular bursae and 35 DIP -joints from animals suffering from navicular disease, and the same synovial structures in 16 joints of horses with no evidence of abnormalities involving the foot. To avoid dilution effects, GAG/COMP, HA/COMP, MMP-2/ COMP and MMP-9/COMP ratios were also calculated for different synovial cavities. There was a good correlation, for COMP, GAG, HA, MMP-2 and TP levels, between synovial fluid from the navicular bursa and fluid from the DIP -joint in healthy animals. However, in animals with navicular disease, only COMP levels showed no difference between the navicular bursal fluid and the DIP-joint fluid concentration. Thus, enabling the use of COMP to standardise other biochemical concentration measurements from the synovial joint fluids. In horses with navicular disease, there was a significantly lower absolute concentration of GAG, and a significantly lower GAG/COMP ratio, in the synovial fluid of the navicular bursa and the DIP-joint compared to synovial fluid from the same joints from healthy horses. In contrast, the absolute HA concentration and HA/ COMP, MMP-2/COMP and MMP-9/COMP ratios were higher in synovial fluid from the DIP-joint of horses with navicular disease, and MMP-2 and MMP-9 relative activity levels and MMP-2/COMP and MMP-9/ COMP ratios were increased in fluid from navicular bursae in horses with navicular disease when compared to a control group.
Copyright 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.
Publication Date: 2002-01-19 PubMed ID: 11798295DOI: 10.1053/rvsc.2001.0509Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study explores the biochemical changes in synovial fluid found in navicular disease in animals. The results suggest that certain biomarkers in this fluid can be used as diagnostic measures to identify alterations in synovial fluid related to the disease.
Objective of the Study
- The research aims to understand the biochemical changes that occur in synovial fluid – the viscous liquid found in cavities of synovial joints – in cases of navicular disease. It further seeks to find out whether the fluid from the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP), the joint located in the foot, can be used to detect alterations in the synovial fluid of the navicular bursa, a sac filled with synovial fluid.
Methodology
- The scientists determined the levels of various biochemical markers such as Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP), Total Glycosaminoglycans (GAG), Hyaluronan (HA), metalloproteinases 2 and -9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9), and total protein (TP) in the synovial fluid extracted from navicular bursae and DIP joints.
- This was carried out in both animals suffering from navicular disease and in a group of healthy animals that served as a control group.
- Additionally, to sidestep dilution effects, ratios of GAG/COMP, HA/COMP, MMP-2/COMP, and MMP-9/COMP were also calculated from different synovial cavities.
Findings
- There was a good correlation between the synovial fluid content in the navicular bursa and that in the DIP joint in healthy animals in terms of COMP, GAG, HA, MMP-2, and TP levels.
- In animals with navicular disease, there was no difference in COMP levels between the fluid taken from the navicular bursa and the DIP joint. This finding suggests the potential usefulness of COMP as a standardizing factor for other biochemical concentration measurements taken from synovial joint fluids.
- For animals with navicular disease, the GAG concentration and the GAG/COMP ratio were lower in synovial fluid from both the navicular bursa and the DIP joint when compared to healthy animals.
- Conversely, the relative concentration of HA and the ratios of HA/COMP, MMP-2/COMP. and MMP-9/COMP were greater in synovial fluid from the DIP joint in animals with navicular disease. Also, the MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity levels and their respective COMP ratios were augmented in the fluid taken from navicular bursae in the affected animals, compared to the control group.
Conclusion
- The study establishes a deeper understanding of the biochemical alterations in synovial fluid in cases of navicular disease. Changes in certain biomarkers’ concentrations and their ratios in the synovial fluid – particularly those related to GAG, HA, MMP-2, and MMP-9 – could potentially serve as a diagnostic tool for detecting the presence of navicular disease.
Cite This Article
APA
Viitanen M, Bird J, Makela O, Schramme M, Smith R, Tulamo RM, May S.
(2002).
Synovial fluid studies in navicular disease.
Res Vet Sci, 71(3), 201-206.
https://doi.org/10.1053/rvsc.2001.0509 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Farm Animal and Equine Medicine and Surgery, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts, AL 9 7 TA, UK. minna@viitanen.freeserve.co.uk
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bursa, Synovial / physiopathology
- Female
- Foot Diseases / diagnosis
- Foot Diseases / physiopathology
- Foot Diseases / veterinary
- Hoof and Claw
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Joints / chemistry
- Joints / physiology
- Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
- Lameness, Animal / etiology
- Lameness, Animal / physiopathology
- Male
- Proteins / analysis
- Synovial Fluid / chemistry
- Synovial Fluid / physiology
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