A Study of β-Acetylglucosaminase and Acid Phosphatase in Pathological Joint Fluids

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Abstract
[beta]-Acetylglucosaminase and acid phosphatase activities were measured in the synovial fluid of 43 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and a variety of other rheumatic disorders. The highest values were found in those with classical rheumatoid arthritis, with intermediate values in definite and probable rheumatoid arthritis. The activities of [beta]-acetylglucosaminase in a miscellaneous group of inflammatory joint disorders were usually similar to those of 5 autopsy specimens and of a "non-inflammatory" group. Values for acid phosphatasein the "miscellaneous" group were higher than those of the "non-inflammatory" group. The same enzymes were measured in the plasma of most of these patients and in a control series of comparable age and sex. [beta]-Acetylglucosaminase activities were similar in the 2 series. Acid phosphatase levels, were more variable in the patients with rheumatic disease than in the controls, the highest values in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The enzyme activities in synovial fluid were not related to age and sex, to the duration of the disease, or to the particular joint involved; fluids with high leucocyte counts, have the higher enzyme activities. Previous work on enzymes in synovial fluid is briefly reviewed.