[Results of the cytological examination of the synovial fluid in various arthropathies]

Abstract

329 synovial fluids from various joint diseases were examined. 95% of the fluids from arthrosis contained less than 1 000 cells/ml, figure which seemed to us to be the limit which separates arthrosis from arthritis. Above 100.000 cells/ml, the diagnosis is always pyogenic arthritis. Between 50.000 and 100.000 cells/ml, one may find pyogenic arthritis but also a few cases of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic rheumatism, gout and pseudo-gout. In chondrocalcinosis, the fluid variable, often poor in cells. The percentage of polymorphs is of little diagnostic interest; it exceeds 50% in all cases of pyogenic arthritis. R.A. cells are almost constant in fluids with more than 1 000 cells/ml and their diagnostic interest is not great.