Quantitation of human synovial mast cells in rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.

Abstract

We examined sections of synovial membranes from 14 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 7 with other rheumatic diseases, and 10 with no apparent joint disease. Patients with RA and other rheumatic diseases had significantly more synovial mast cells/vessel than patients with no joint disease (0.49 and 0.20, respectively, versus 0.03). They also had significantly more total mast cells/10 fields than patients with no joint disease (9.9 and 5.0, respectively, versus 0.4). Within the rheumatoid group, patients with active disease had more total mast cells/10 fields than patients clinically considered to have end-stage disease (P less than 0.05). Synovial basophils were not identified in any patient. Synovial vascularity was similar for all groups (2.3 vessels/field). The role of the synovial mast cell in RA and other rheumatic diseases remains to be determined.

• Authors: H P Godfrey, C Ilardi, W Engber, F M Graziano
• Journal: Arthritis and rheumatism (Arthritis Rheum) Vol. 27 Issue 8 Pg. 852-6 (Aug 1984) ISSN: 0004-3591 [Print] United States
• PMID: 6380504 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Immunoglobulin E
• Rheumatoid Factor

Topics

• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (pathology)
• Cell Count
• Histological Techniques
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin E (analysis)
• Mast Cells (cytology)
• Rheumatoid Factor (analysis)
• Synovial Membrane (cytology)