Abstract
The synovial tissue is a primary target of multiple diseases characterized by different pathogenic mechanisms, including infective, deposition, neoplastic, and chronic immune-inflammatory pathologies. Synovial biopsy can have a relevant role in differential diagnosis of specific conditions in clinical practice, although its exploitation remains relatively limited. In particular, no validated synovial-tissue-derived biomarkers are currently available in the clinic to aid in the diagnosis and management in most frequent forms of chronic inflammatory arthropathies, namely rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the spondyloarthritides (SpA). In this brief review, we will discuss the current spectrum of clinical applications of synovial biopsy in routine rheumatologic care and will provide an analysis of the perspectives for its potential exploitation in patients with chronic inflammatory arthritides.
Highlights
Rheumatology and Translational Immunology Research Laboratories, Division of Rheumatology, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
No validated synovial-tissue-derived biomarkers are currently available in the clinic to aid in the diagnosis and management in most frequent forms of chronic inflammatory arthropathies, namely rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the spondyloarthritides (SpA)
On the one hand, the synovial biopsy may offer unique information aiding the diagnosis of infectious and other rare diseases, on the other, no validated synovial tissue-derived biomarkers are currently available in the clinic to support early diagnosis/classification or to guide individual patients’ management in most frequent forms of chronic inflammatory arthropathies
Summary
Rheumatology and Translational Immunology Research Laboratories, Division of Rheumatology, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. Reviewed by: Caroline Ospelt, University of Zurich, Switzerland Bernard R. Specialty section: This article was submitted to Rheumatology, a section of the journal
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