This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Justus J. Fiechtner, MD; Peter A. Simkin, MD

JAMA. 1981;245(15):1533-1536.

Abstract
We have identified urate crystals in gouty synovial fluid in a spherulite form. Studies in vitro established these "beachball" structures as chemically identical to classic "needles" of monosodium urate monohydrate, the prime factor in gouty arthritis. Previously described in the 1890s by a German scientist, these structures have not been recognized by clinicians examining fluid from arthritic joints. We suggest an identification scheme for "beachball-like" structures in synovial fluid.

(JAMA 1981;245:1533-1536)

Author Affiliations
From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Division of Rheumatology, RG-20, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195 (Dr Simkin).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?