Method of assaying normal aglycan, assaying kit, and method of judging joint-related information

摘要

A method for assay of normal aggrecan wherein normal aggrecan capable of binding hyaluronan is separated from proteoglycan incapable of binding hyaluronan so that only normal aggrecan can be detected, and a measurement kit used for the assay. Normal aggrecan thus separated is detected with a means for detection of proteoglycan. The specimen is preferably synovial fluid from the joint to be examined. A method for evaluation of information on a joint wherein information on the amount of normal aggrecan and the amount of total proteoglycan in the specimen is detected with said method and said measurement kit for assay of normal aggrecan, such information is compared with the previously obtained information on the amount of said substances in synovial fluid from a normal joint, and the information is evaluated to be the one derived from a normal joint or a pathological joint based on the absence or presence of significant difference. Presence of significant difference is considered to indicate a disease selected among a group of diseases consisting of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, traumatic arthritis, and gout. This invention is usable for biochemical diagnosis of joint diseases in the field of orthopedics. Determination of the concentration of normal aggrecan and the percentage of normal aggrecan in total proteoglycan is useful for differentiation between a normal joint and a pathological joint, for understanding of the pathological conditions, such as the type of the joint disease and estimation of the prognosis, and also for evaluation of the effect of therapies.