The alterations of the synovial membrane in rheumatoid arthritis treated with corticosteroids.

Sections of synovial tissue removed from patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated, for a long period of time or a brief period of time or not at all, with corticosteroids were examined for the incidence of histopathologic changes. Comparison of the quantification of these changes in the differently treated groups revealed that prolonged administration of corticosteroids had an inhibiting effect on the occurrence of lymphocytes and histiocytes in inflammatory infiltrates as well as on the hypertrophy of synoviocytes, on the proliferation both of fibroblasts and fibrocytes, and on the formation of villi and collagen fibers.