Publisher Summary Acquisition of experimental data pertinent to the human disease is
made more difficult by the rather sketchy and incomplete knowledge available of the
pathophysiology of this disease. Long-term retention of antigen in avascular collagenous
structures depends on its trapping in the form of insoluble immune complexes maintained in
antibody excess by the high antibody concentration found in the joint cavity. Such an
environment is provided in part by the active local synthesis of antibody. This feature may be …