Synovitis of recent onset. A clinicopathologic study during the first month of disease

Abstract

Abstract Nine of 24 patients studied during the first month of synovitis subsequently fulfilled diagnostic criteria for adult or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Most showed prominent synovial vascular lesions and inflammation that rarely included plasma cells. Rheumatoid factor titers were low, but gammaglobulin levels were often elevated. Synovial fluid leukocyte counts were generally lower than in chronic RA, and synovial membrane inflammation was seen even with noninflammatory effusions. Nine patients had a transient synovitis not fitting any known disease entity.