The source of the inter‐alpha trypsin inhibitor in pathologic hyaluronateprotein

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Abstract
Hyaluronateprotein isolated from pathologic synovial fluid has been shown to have different physical properties from hyaluronateprotein isolated from normal synovial fluid. The altered properties of hyaluronateprotein from pathologic synovial fluid are due to the presence of a serum protein identified immunologically as the inter‐alpha trypsin inhibitor (IATI). The IATI is undetectable in normal synovial fluid, but is present in pathologic synovial fluids. The IATI in pathologic synovial fluid is bound to hyaluronate. The concentration of IATI is always much higher in serum than synovial fluid indicating that the IATI in synovial fluid has passed from the serum into the diseased joint where it has become firmly bound to hyaluronate.