Alpha-mannosidase activity in synovial fluid.

A microassay technique for the evaluation of synovial fluid alpha-mannosidase activity is presented with the evaluation of 184 synovial fluid samples from a variety of arthropathic conditions. The results indicate a close correlation of enzyme activity with synovial fluid cell count and the degree of inflammation associated with the various types of joint disease. It is suggested that the evaluation of this and other lysosomal glycosidases offer a quantitative method for the evaluation of inflammatory joint disease.