Synovial xanthomatosis: are there clues to mechanisms for this rare disease?

We report a 64-year-old man with arthritis and nodules to describe that this picture can be caused by normo-lipidemic xanthomas. Light and electron microscopy (EM) plus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies were performed for diagnosis and investigation. These showed features typical of xanthomas plus PCR and EM evidence of possible infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae as a pathogenetic mechanism deserving consideration.

Clinical diagnostic criteria for gout: comparison with the gold standard of synovial fluid crystal analysis.

Background: Several classification or diagnostic criteria sets for gout have been proposed but none validated.

Objective: This small pilot study considered urate crystal identification as the gold standard for diagnosis and compared the clinical aspects of 3 proposed criteria sets with that standard.

Methods: Eighty-two subjects who had synovial fluid analyses in a VA medical center were studied.

Absence of histologic evidence of synovitis in patients with Gulf War veterans' illness with joint pain.

Objective: An unexplained multisymptom illness, Gulf War veterans' illness (GWVI), has been described among allied force veterans of the first Gulf War (1990-1991). It has been proposed that some of its symptoms reflect an immune dysfunction, and rheumatologic symptoms including joint pain and stiffness are reported frequently. However, it is unknown whether synovial inflammation causes the articular symptoms.