ABSTRACT
This work was planned to test a possible immunological background for the observed increased incidence and severity of osteoarthrosis in diabetes mellitus. Two matched groups of patients, a diabetic and non-diabetic control, with osteoarthrosis were studied. Each group included 15 patients. All patients were subjected to arthroscopic examination of the knee joint. The grade of osteoarthrosis was recorded and biopsies were taken from the synovial membrane and articular cartilage for immunofluorescent examination. Results showed earlier age of onset of osteoarthrosis among diabetics. The severity of osteoarthrosis was found to be related to the state of diabetic control, duration of diabetes and the presence of other microvascular complications. The study revealed significantly increased deposition of immunoglobulins IgG, IgM, IgA and C3 component in the articular cartilage in diabetics. This supports the theory of enhanced immunogenicity in diabetic osteoarthrosis through a proposed immunogenic effect of the glycosylated collagen