Kleeman-Forsthuber LT, Johnson RM, Brady AC, et al. - The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of alpha-defensins (AD) on the diagnosis and management of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Researchers retrospectively examined synovial fluid from 522 patients after total knee and hip arthroplasty. They reviewed synovial white blood cell count, percentage of neutrophils, and culture from the AD-immunoassay laboratory with serum erythrocyte sedimentation rate and c-reactive protein values from our institution. The data indicated that, in some cases, AD may be beneficial where laboratory values are otherwise equivocal, nevertheless, for the diagnosis of PJI, its routine use may not be warranted.