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. 1994 Feb;53(2):100–105. doi: 10.1136/ard.53.2.100

Chlamydia pneumoniae--a new causative agent of reactive arthritis and undifferentiated oligoarthritis.

J Braun 1, S Laitko 1, J Treharne 1, U Eggens 1, P Wu 1, A Distler 1, J Sieper 1
PMCID: PMC1005260  PMID: 8129453

Abstract

OBJECTIVE--To examine whether reactive arthritis (ReA) known to occur after a urogenital infection with Chlamydia trachomatis can also follow an infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae, a recently described species of Chlamydiae that is a common cause of respiratory tract infections. METHODS--Specific antibodies (microimmunofluorescence test) and lymphocyte proliferation to C trachomatis and C pneumoniae in paired samples of peripheral blood and synovial fluid were investigated in 70 patients with either reactive arthritis (ReA) or undifferentiated oligoarthritis (UOA). RESULTS--Five patients with acute ReA after an infection with C pneumoniae are reported. Three had a symptomatic preceding upper respiratory tract infection and two had no such symptoms. In all patients a C pneumoniae-specific lymphocyte proliferation in synovial fluid and a high specific antibody titre suggesting an acute infection was found. CONCLUSION--C pneumoniae needs to be considered a new important cause of reactive arthritis.

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Selected References

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