[[Nitroblue tetrazolium tests of blood and synovial fluid cells in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis (author's transl)].

Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test, widely performed to investigate the physiology and function of blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes, was evaluated using blood and synovial fluid cells of 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 19 patients with osteoarthritis. There were no significant differences among two joint diseases and healthy controls in NBT test values on blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Seropositive and CRP positive patients with rheumatoid arthritis, however, revealed low values. NBT test value on polymorphonuclear leukocytes of synovial fluids was lower than that of blood in rheumatoid arthritis and was higher than that of blood in osteoarthritis. Negative correlations were seen between NBT test value and nucleated cell count of synovial fluids in these diseases. On the other hand, NBT test by mononuclear cells did not differ from the by polymorphonuclear leukocytes in rheumatoid synovial fluids and these two values correlated well. There was correlation between nucleated cell count and NBT test value on mononuclear cells in osteoarthritic synovial fluids. From these results it was suggested that the severity of joint inflammation might influence the function of not only polymorphonuclear leukocytes but also mononuclear cells of synovial fluids.