Ferritin in Synovial Cells in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Synovial tissue removed in cases of rheumatoid arthritis was examined with the electron microscope. The most striking feature in 3 consecutive cases was the presence of large numbers of ferritin molecules particularly in type A synovial lining cells. The ferritin was scattered throughout the cell cytoplasm but was frequently concentrated into complex cytoplasmic granules or lysosomes. The possible significance of this finding in relation to the anemia and pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis is discussed.