- See:
osteoarthritis of the knee
- Discussion:
- hyaluronic acid is a
glycosaminoglycan found in
synovial fluid &
cartilage;
- acts as
lubricant and shock absorber;
- acts as barrier permitting metabolites to pass thru it by diffusion but resists penetration by bacteria and other infectious agents;
- amount in cartilage is variable but usually represents less than 1% of total
glycosaminoglycans;
- can be present in a free state, but it is usually found as a part of proteoglycan aggregates in cartilage;
- in joint fluid, hyaluronic acid is synthesized in synovial membrane;
- hyaluronate in synovial fluid is an extended glycosaminoglycan and a lubricating glycoprotein;
- sheer stiffness (determines elastic behavior) of synovial fluid is derived from the entanglement of these long-chain molecules and
remains constant;
Effect of hyaluronic acid/chondroitin sulfate on healing of full-thickness tendon lacerations in rabbits.
Hyaluronans: is clinical effectiveness dependent on molecular weight?
Granulomatous Inflammation After Hylan G-F 20 Viscosupplementation of the Knee
Increased Frequency of Acute Local Reaction to Intra-Articular Hylan GF-20 (Synvisc) in Patients Receiving More Than One Course of Treatment
Hyaluronan Suppresses IL-1[beta]-induced Metalloproteinase Activity from Synovial Tissue.