RESUMO
In 30 cases of disease of the knee joint (9 cases of rheumatoid arthritis, 14 arthroses and 7 cases of posttraumatic postoperative synovitis), the quantitative changes of the four lysosomal enzymes (acid phosphatase, lactic acid dehydrogenase, cathepsin and proteins) was observed in the course of intra-articular treatment with Gordox. It was evident from the analysis of the enzyme determinations conducted within 5--30 days at various times, and from the clinical results of the treatment, that in the cured or improved cases, all four enzymes were reduced (6 patients), whereas, in 16 cases, three of the enzyme levels had decreased. The enzyme titer remained unchanged in those patients who had been treated without success. Although these results do not as yet allow any final conclusions with regard to the mechanisms of action of Gordox administered intraarticularly, they do indicate that further and even more thorough studies in this direction should be conducted.