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1. The concentration of hyaluronic acid in synovial fluid was determined by a modification of the Dische carbazole method for the determination of uronic acids. 2. The results of this determination in 80 specimens of normal and abnormal synovial fluid confirmed values reported by other methods. 3. An inverse relationship between the hyaluronic acid in the synovial fluid and the degree of synovitis was suggested.

The distribution of proteins and glyco-proteins in the synovial fluid and serum of normal patients and those with rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic diseases is presented. Joint disease tends to result in similar concentrations of protein in both serum and synovial fluid. Of particular interest is the distribution of alphaz glycoprotein. The relative concentration of this high molecular weight substance between serum and synovial fluid seems to be a most sensitive index of the semipermeability of the synovial membrane. Es presentate le distribution de pro-teinas e glycoproteinas in le liquido synovial e in le sero de subjectos normal e de patientes con arthritis rheumatoide e con altere morbos rheumatic. Morbo articular tende a monstrar simile con-centrationes de proteina in le sero e in le liquido synovial. De interesse particular es le distribution de glyco-proteina alphaz. Le concentration relative de iste substantia a alte peso molecular in le sero e in le liquido synovial pare esser un sensibilissime indice del semipermeabilitate del mem-brana synovial. HIS REPORT presents the results of a comparison of the distribution of T P roteins and glycoproteins, determined by zone electrophoresis, of the serum and synovial fluid of 10 patients without rheumatic disease and 71 patients with certain rheumatic diseases. The electrophoretic distribution of protein in the synovial fluid1 and a comparison of serum and synovial fluid proteins have been It has been shown that the synovial fluid in traumatic arthritis in comparison to serum from the same patient has a higher relative concentration of albumin (as a fraction of the total protein) and a lower relative concentration of globulin (as a fraction of the total protein). In rheumatic diseases with systemic reactions the synovial fluid globulins increase relatively more than the synovial fluid albumin; as a result, when expressed as a percentage of the total protein in synovial fluid (relative concentration), albumin decreases while globulins increase. Changes in distribution of proteins in synovial fluid quantitatively exceed any changes in distribution of proteins in serum. From the Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundotion, Rochester, Minn. Abridgment of portion of thesis submitted by Dr. Decker to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the Uniuersity of Minncsotu in partial fulfillment of the rcquirernents for the degree of Master of Science in Medicine. The Mayo Foundation (Rochester, Minn.) is a part of the Graduate School of the Unioerdty of Minnesota. The authors would like to acknowledgc the technical assktance of Mr. Curtis Dunlap, Mr. Richard Goodwin and Mr. Sanford Ward. Ths authors are also indebted to the Section of Rheumtology and the Section of Orthopedics for their continuous cooperation and interest.

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