PAIRED SERUM AND SYNOVIAL FLUID VALUES OF α2-MACROGLOBULIN AND TIMP IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Abstract

The levels of α₂-macroglobulin and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) were determined in paired serum and synovial fluid samples from rheumatoid arthritis patients. Serum levels of α₂-macroglobulin (mean 1580±340 mg/l) were always higher than the corresponding synovial fluid although the spread of synovial fluid levels was broad (mean 520±340 mg/l). Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases was always higher in synovial fluid (mean 4.59±1.8 mg/l) than serum (mean 1.3±0.39 mg/l) indicating that local synthesis occurred within the joint.