The effect of a corticosteroid on the absorption of 131I-albumin from rabbit knee joint.

The disappearance rate of 131I-albumin from the knee joint in six rabbits was measured before and after intraarticular injection of 7.5 mg triamcinolonhexacetonide (Lederspan). A significant decrease in the synovial permeability was demonstrated after injection of triamcinolonhexacetonide (average 64 percent). It is concluded that this demonstrates that corticosteroids have a direct effect on the synovial membrane, which may be an important mechanism whereby they exert their therapeutic effect upon joints.