Histological appearance of the synovium in early rheumatoid arthritis☆

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Abstract

This report reviews and discusses studies on the synovial fluid and biopsy specimens of synovial membrane obtained during the first 6 weeks of synovitis that evolved into rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Five previously unreported cases are described. Early changes in the microvasculature and synovial lining seem to antedate the classical chronic inflammation of established RA. Further characterization in the joint tissues in very early RA offers opportunities for identification of exogenous triggers and may allow more appropriate targeting of early therapy to potentially reversible aspects of pathogenesis.

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    • Cited by (0)

    ☆

    Supported by a National Institutes of Health grant to the Clinical Research Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

    1

    From the Division of Rheumatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Arthritis-Immunology Center, Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA.

    2

    From the Division of Rheumatology, Paoli Memorial Medical Hospital, Paoli, PA.

    3

    From the Division of Rheumatology, Mon Valley Hospital, Monongahela, PA.

    4

    From the Division of Rheumatology, University of Arizona Division of Rheumatology-Allergy and Immunology, Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ.

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    Copyright © 1994 Published by Elsevier Inc.