Osteoarthritis (OA), and particularly osteoarthritis of the hip (coxarthrosis), together with hypertension and diabetes, belong to the most common lifestyle diseases. Usually the determination of a clear reason for the degenerative changes is impossible. However, the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can affect the protein metabolism and thus cause the degradation of the joint connective tissue structures has been recently frequently pointed out. The aim of this study was to compare the activity of selected enzymes and albumin and protein level in the synovial membrane obtained during hip replacement surgery due to coxarthrosis.
The reference group consisted of patients after traumatic femoral neck fracture, without osteoarthritis in the medical record. Collected sections of the synovial membrane were prepared for biochemical tests according to the authors' methodology.
In the synovial membrane of patients with hip osteoarthritis significantly higher activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) was observed, as well as increased activity of prolidase and lower activity of acid phosphatase activity compared with the reference group. The concentration of total protein and albumin in the synovial membrane was similar in both groups.
Increased SOD activity indirectly indicates ROS participation in OA pathogenesis. Coexisting protein metabolism disorders of the synovial membrane may contribute to the degradation of the articular cartilage.