# PATTERNS OF PATHOPHYSIOLOGY IN ARTICULAR DISEASES

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 1991 · $53,183

## Abstract

The "logic of nature" has determined that many rheumatic diseases follow
characteristic patterns in distirbution of involved joints, in biochemical
constituents of synovial effusions, and in selective injury to either
convex or concave joint members.  Although many of these patterns are
diagnostically useful, little is known about their uderlying
pathophysiology.

The present project considers synovial effusions as microvascular disorders
and employs new quantitative means to characterize the vascular physiology
of normal synovium in different joints and of inflamed synovium in
experimental synovitis.  These new tools include assessments of 1) the
effective synovial blood flow (clearance of iodide from the joint space in
ml/min), 2) effective rate of lymphatic drainage from (clearance of
radiolabelled albumin in ml/min), 3) the flux rate at which each protein
traverses the joint space (mg/min), 4) the volume of plasma cleared of a
specific protein by entry into the joint space (ml/min), 5) the filtration
fraction of perfusing plasma which leaves synovial microvessels and returns
to the circulation through lymphatics (%), 6) the fraction of each plasma
protein which enters the joint space per passage through the
microvasculature (%), and 7) the transitional microvascular pressure where
filtration stops and reabsorption begins (mmHg).  These new tools will be
used to contrast the pathophysiology of acute and chronic experimental
synovitis, and to evalute the contributions of specific Starling forces to
net fluid balance of articular tissues in dogs.

Concurrent studies of juxtaarticular bone will contrast the human femoral
head and its opposing acetabulum using fully automated morphometry to
examine trabecular structure at varying subchondral depths.  Biomechanical
studies of the same specimens will further test our hypothesis that convex
joint members are flexible and are hydraulically supported in contrast to
their stiff but elastic concave mates.  Subsequent studies include tensile
loading and cyclic compression of hip joints, biomechanical studies of the
lumbar spine, and allometric morphometry of mammalian hips.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3156419
- **Project number:** 3R01AR032811-08S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HD1WMN6945W6
- **Principal Investigator:** PETER A SIMKIN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $53,183
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 1983-07-01 → 1992-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3156419

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3156419, PATTERNS OF PATHOPHYSIOLOGY IN ARTICULAR DISEASES (3R01AR032811-08S1). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3156419. Licensed CC0.

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