Bacteriolytic and bactericidal activity of sera and synovial fluids in rheumatoid arthritis and in osteoarthritis.

Abstract

AbstractBacteriolytic and bactericidal activity was evaluated in sera and synovial fluids of 28 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 13 patients with osteoarthritis. An attempt was made to correlate the results with the concentrations of the total hemolytic complement, lysozyme, immunoglobulins, transferrin, and the titer of the Latex fixation. Bacteriolytic activity in all but 5 hypocomplementemic rheumatoid sera and in all osteoarthritic sera was normal. There was a correlation (P = 0.01) between bacteriolytic activity and the level of complement, but not the level of other factors or the titer of the Latex fixation. Bacteriolytic activity in the rheumatoid and osteoarthritic synovial fluids was low, being respectively four times and two times weaker than in the corresponding sera. It correlated well only with the level of complement (P < 0.01). Bactericidal activity of rheumatoid and osteoarthritic sera was normal but was very significantly decreased in the synovial fluids, being respectively 10 times weaker and four times weaker than in the corresponding sera. The only positive correlation was found between bactericidal activity and the complement level (P < 0.01). There was no correlation between the titer of the Latex fixation and the level of the total hemolytic complement either in serum or in synovial fluids. The influence of 6 antiarthritic drugs on antibacterial activity was tested by addition of drugs to the normal human serum. There was no change in bacteriolytic activity, however bacterial growth was inhibited when high concentrations of drugs were mixed with the culture medium.