Decreased Semaphorin3A expression correlates with disease activity and histological features of rheumatoid arthritis

Table 2 Rooney’s inflammation scoring system for patients with rheumatoid arthritis

	Score
Histologic feature	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Synoviocyte hyperplasia^a	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	>10
Fibrosis^b	<10	<15	<20	<25	<30	<40	<50	<60	<70	<80	≥80
Proliferating blood vessels^c	0–3	4–5	6–7	8–9	10–11	12–13	14–15	16–17	18–19	20–22	>22
Perivascular infiltrates of lymphocytes^d	<5	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100
Focal aggregates of lymphocytes^e	<11	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50	55	>55
Diffuse infiltrates of lymphocytes^f	0	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100

^aA normal synoviocyte monolayer was scored as 0. The score was increased as the synoviocyte lining layer increased in depth. ^bSections containing < 10% fibrous tissue in the sublining layers were scored as 0. The score increased as the percentage of fibrosis in the section increased. ^cThree or fewer vessels per high power field (HPF) were scored as 0. The score increased as the number of vessels per HPF increased. ^dWhen no lymphocytes were observed around vessels, it was scored as 0. The score increased as the percentage of vessels surrounded by lymphocytes increased. Subsequently, the diameter of the perivascular lymphocytes was graded as mild = 2–4 cells in diameter, moderate = 5–7 cells in diameter, and severe = 8–10 cells in diameter. Where the perivascular lymphocytes were considered mild or severe, the original score was lowered by 1 point or raised by 1 point, respectively. ^eAbsence of focal aggregates of lymphocytes, which exceeded 10 cells in diameter, were scored as 0. The score increased as the cell numbers in the diameter of the focal aggregates increased. ^fAn estimate was made of the percentage of cells per HPF that were lymphocytes. The score increased as the percentage of lymphocytes increased.

ISSN: 1471-2474