Gelsolin (GSN) is a protein whose function in the cytoplasm is to regulate intracellular actin assembly, while circulating plasma GSN has been implicated in the clearance of cellular byproducts via the body's scavenger system. In knee synovial fluid, GSN appears to be protective of inflammation as lower levels have been found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis while higher levels have been demonstrated in hypersensitivity reactions to metallic implants. The purpose of this study is to define the role of GSN in painful total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients as a biomarker to distinguish septic from aseptic diagnoses. After Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, 50 patients were enrolled in the study into two cohorts. 25 patients presented with a painful TKA and 25 patients had a painful native knee with primary osteoarthritis (OA). Synovial fluid was obtained from each patient's affected knee. Appropriate lab and culture data was also obtained from the painful TKA group. An ELISA was used to determine GSN levels and the groups were compared. Two tailed Student's t tests were used to compare means while Pearson's Correlation Coefficient and linear regression analyses were used to determine association between laboratory findings and GSN levels.Introduction
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