Figure 3

(A) Linear regression of DHA vs. DDex shows a selective reduction of HA diffusion coefficient in synovial fluid from patients without joint damage (slope = 0.4 +/− 0.1). This reduction is missing synovial fluid from patients affected by joint damage (slope 1.3 +/− 0.2). The slope of the w/-JD-group resembles the ratio of DHA and DDex found in buffer solution and indicates that in patients with osteoarthritis, HA undergoes no or less interactions. The encircled data points represent patients not in need of total knee arthroplasty but with an ICRS-score > 2. (B) Analyzing DHA/DDex makes patients with joint damage distinguishable from patients without joint damage.