Articular manifestations of hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy in bronchogenic carcinoma.

Eight patients with bronchogenic carcinoma presented with painful joint effusions as part of the syndrome of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. Elevated sedimentation rates and symptomatic relief with aspirin were common, but synovial fluids all had leukocyte counts less than 500/mm3. Synovial microvascular injury was found in all patients, and electron-dense deposits in synovial vessel walls were identified in 5 cases. These vascular deposits suggest a role for circulating materials in pathogenesis.