SYNOVIAL FLUID MURAMIC ACID IN ACUTE INFLAMMATORY ARTHRITIS

Presence of muramic acid, a bacterial cell wall component, was analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in synovial fluid (SF) of 40 patients with acute inflammatory arthritis. SF muramic acid was observed in 4/14 patients with acute, culture negative inflammatory arthritis of unclear origin. Each of these four patients had a history of a recent bacterial disease (pansinuitis, purulent leg ulcer, erysipelas, unexplained fever with suspicin of cholecystitis and urinary tract infection)