Rheumatoid Arthritis and Spondyloarthropathy Differ on Synovial Histology

January 2, 2001

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WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) Dec 27 - Synovial membrane tissues of

rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients differ from those of spondyloarthropathy

(SpA) patients, report researchers in the December issue of ls of the

Rheumatic Diseases.

" Describing the disease-specific changes of the synovial membrane can help

us to understand the disease mechanisms of different types of arthritis and

to define specific targets for therapy, " Dr. Dominique Baeten pointed out in

an interview with Reuters Health. " It could also lead to an early diagnosis

of disease. "

Dr. Baeten and colleagues at the University of Ghent in Belgium compared the

synovial tissue of patients with different types and duration of arthritic

disease. Biopsy specimens were obtained by needle arthroscopy from 16

patients with early RA, 14 patients with late RA, 23 patients with early SpA

and 12 patients with osteoarthritis (OA).

The researchers found no disease-related differences among RA, SpA and OA

patients without joint effusion. However, they did find important

differences between patients with RA and SpA with active joint effusion.

Disease-related changes observed in the histology included

" neovascularisation in SpA, T and B cell infiltration in RA, and

differential alpha-V integrin expression, " the researchers write.

Local disease activity appears to affect the immune architecture of the

synovial membrane more than does duration of disease, Dr. Baeten's group

reports.

" Recent studies in our lab have yielded the discovery of two markers that

are highly specific for rheumatoid arthritis; we are now testing their

diagnostic value in daily clinical practice, " Dr. Baeten told Reuters

Health.

Ann Rheum Dis 2000;39:945-953.

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