Open AccessA comparative study by morphometry of the microvasculature in normal and rheumatoid synovium
Author(s) -
Stevens C. R.,
Blake D. R.,
Merry P.,
Revell P. A.,
Levick J. R.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780341206
Subject(s) - rheumatoid arthritis , vascularity , medicine , pathology , synovial membrane
Vascularity is said to be increased (subjectively) in rheumatoid arthritis, yet synovial fluid is hypoxic and acidotic. Morphometry by image analysis was used to quantify vascularity in normal and rheumatoid synovium from the knee joint. Capillaries were distributed more deeply in the rheumatoid synovium (93.3 μm, compared with 32.5 μm in normal synovium) and were significantly less densely arranged (80.2/mm 2 rheumatoid, 241.5/mm 2 normal). The blood volume fraction fell from 2.9% in normal knee synovium to 1.2% in rheumatoid synovium. These results imply that there is impairment of O 2 transfer, which contributes to the intraarticular hypoxia, in rheumatoid arthritis.