Alpha-Defensin Is Not Superior to Traditional Diagnostic Methods for Detection of Periprosthetic Joint Infection in Total Hip Arthroplasty and Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients

Synovial fluid alpha-defensin (AD) may improve diagnostic accuracy of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) following total knee (TKA) and hip (THA) arthroplasty but is only available as send-out test. This study evaluated laboratory result accuracy between send-out test vs hospital labs and if AD made a difference in treatment plan.

A retrospective review was performed of 152 consecutive patients with a TKA or THA joint aspiration for painful or clinically concerning joint. Synovial fluid was sent to our institution (hospital-based labs, HBL) and send-out immunoassay laboratory (Synovasure). Patients were scored with specific criteria from validated scoring system for PJI using HBL and Synovasure results. The score with and without AD test was compared to determine if AD impacted patient management.

Overall, there was strong agreement between institutions for PJI diagnosis (Cohen’s kappa score 0.96). Twenty-nine patients had PJI diagnosis (score ≥6), of which 28 (97%) had positive AD with 1 false-negative result. Sixty-three patients had inconclusive score (between 2 and 5) and 60 patients had negative PJI diagnosis (score ≤1). Of these patients, 5 underwent surgery for infection. Two patients had surgery for positive AD, 2 for positive culture, and 1 because of elevated HBL results. The AD test changed the PJI diagnosis and influenced decision for surgery in only 1.3% (2/152) of patients.

Minimal differences were found in laboratory values between institutions. The addition of AD may be useful in cases of equivocal laboratory results but does not appear to be necessary for routine diagnosis of PJI after TKA/THA.

Level III.