Plasma and synovial fluid lysozyme activity in horses with experimental cartilage defects.

Cartilaginous defects were created in the radiocarpal joints of 12 horses. Synovial fluid cytologic features, lysozyme activity, and beta-glucuronidase activity were monitored for 16 days. A comparison was made of plasma lysozyme and beta-glucuronidase activity and of synovial fluid lysozyme, beta-glucuronidase, and leukocyte concentrations. Plasma lysozyme was found to be independent of synovial fluid lysozyme activity. Synovial fluid lysozyme was significantly increased (P less than 0.001) in all joints with surgically induced defects (group I) compared with controls (arthrocentesis done; group III). However, there was no significant difference in lysozyme activity in group I joints and sham-operated controls (cartilage exposed only; group II). Increased lysozyme concentration was found to be positively correlated with increased numbers of leukocytes in the synovial fluid. Parallel changes were noted in synovial fluid beta-glucuronidase activity, indicating that much of the observed synovial fluid lysozyme activity was of lysosomal origin and not from cartilage destruction. Lysozyme activity in synovial fluid was found to be a very sensitive indicator of acute joint injury or inflammation (or both).