Effects of cold and heat on urate crystal‐induced synovitis in the dog

Abstract

Abstract Local cooling decreased, while heating increased, the acute inflammation produced by a single injection of urate crystals into dog knees. Synovial fluid leukocyte counts and volume, polymorphonuclear infiltration of synovial membrane, and 133 Xe clearance were decreased by cold, and increased by heat. There was good correlation between altered inflammation and vascular changes, but not with enzyme levels, cell death, or leukocyte structural changes. Chronic synovitis from repeated crystal injections was not altered by cold or heat.