Effect of Arthroscopic Lavage on Systemic and Synovial Fluid Serum Amyloid A in Healthy Horses

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of arthroscopic lavage on systemic serum amyloid A (SAA) and SAA, total protein, nucleated cell count, and percentage of neutrophils in synovial fluid in healthy horses. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective experimental study. ANIMALS: Healthy adult horses (n = 6). METHODS: Middle carpal joints were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: arthrocentesis (controls) or arthroscopic lavage, with 30 day washout period between treatments. Synovial fluid and blood samples were collected at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours. Measurements included systemic and synovial fluid SAA, as well as total protein, nucleated cell count, and percentages of neutrophils in synovial fluid. Data were analyzed by median quantile regression and Wilcoxon signed‐rank test and significance level set at P