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Research Article Free access | 10.1172/JCI106594

A physiological approach to the assessment of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis

E. J. Goetzi, K. H. Falchuk, L. S. Zeiger, A. L. Sullivan, C. L. Hebert, J. P. Adams, and J. L. Decker

Arthritis and Rheumatism Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Laboratory of Kidney and Electrolyte Metabolism, National Heart and Lung Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Anesthesiology Department, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D. C. 20005

Find articles by Goetzi, E. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Arthritis and Rheumatism Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Laboratory of Kidney and Electrolyte Metabolism, National Heart and Lung Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Anesthesiology Department, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D. C. 20005

Find articles by Falchuk, K. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Arthritis and Rheumatism Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Laboratory of Kidney and Electrolyte Metabolism, National Heart and Lung Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Anesthesiology Department, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D. C. 20005

Find articles by Zeiger, L. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Arthritis and Rheumatism Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Laboratory of Kidney and Electrolyte Metabolism, National Heart and Lung Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Anesthesiology Department, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D. C. 20005

Find articles by Sullivan, A. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Arthritis and Rheumatism Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Laboratory of Kidney and Electrolyte Metabolism, National Heart and Lung Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Anesthesiology Department, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D. C. 20005

Find articles by Hebert, C. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Arthritis and Rheumatism Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Laboratory of Kidney and Electrolyte Metabolism, National Heart and Lung Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Anesthesiology Department, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D. C. 20005

Find articles by Adams, J. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Arthritis and Rheumatism Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Laboratory of Kidney and Electrolyte Metabolism, National Heart and Lung Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Anesthesiology Department, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D. C. 20005

Find articles by Decker, J. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Published June 1, 1971 - More info

Published in Volume 50, Issue 6 on June 1, 1971
J Clin Invest. 1971;50(6):1167–1180. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI106594.
© 1971 The American Society for Clinical Investigation
Published June 1, 1971 - Version history
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Abstract

A method is described for assessing the in vivo oxygen consumption and lactate production rates of human knee joints. It is based on the rate of fall of Po2 and the rate of rise in lactate concentration in an intra-articular saline pool after interruption of the circulation to the joint with an arterial tourniquet. Studies in 5 control patients with degenerative joint disease and 29 patients with rheumatoid arthritis showed a 2- to 3-fold higher mean oxygen uptake rate and a 10- to 12-fold higher mean lactate appearance rate in the saline in the rheumatoid joints with severe disease compared to the control joints. These metabolic variables correlated with tissue metabolic demand as estimated in synovial biopsies. 133Xe washout from the intra-articular space, which reflects joint circulatory flow, showed a 3-fold greater mean washout rate from the rheumatoid joints (48 studies) than control joints (7 studies) with extensive overlap between the two groups. 133Xe washout rate correlated with knee joint inflammation estimated both clinically and histologically. After synovectomy in four patients, the operated knee showed a greater fall in lactate production than the opposite knee in three of these patients. Neither knee joint oxygen uptake nor 133Xe washout rate changed significantly. Intra-articular corticosteroid injection (eight patients) resulted in decreased lactate production and a decreased 133Xe washout rate in the injected knee and variable results in the untreated knee. Oxygen uptake again was unchanged after therapy.

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