Synovial membrane changes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis revealed during arthroscopy

Exudative or proliferative processes accompanied by joint destruction may predominate in the synovial membrane (SM) in different stages of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The features of SM changes should be considered in the early diagnosis of RA and in the development of combination treatment for this disease. Objective: to study arthroscopic SM changes in patients with different RA durations and different blood anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody levels. Subjects and methods. 37 patients with RA underwent arthroscopy with an arthroscope of a 2.4-mm diameter and 30° angle (Karl Storz GmbH, Germany). RA duration was 2 years. The increase in anti-CCP by >60 U/ml was associated with a predominance of inflammatory hyperplasia (p