The role of Chlamydia and Chlamydophila infections in reactive arthritis

Intern Med. 2012;51(1):113-7. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.51.6228. Epub 2012 Jan 1.

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydophila pneumoniae are human pathogens; the former being the etiologic agent for trachoma as well as a prevalent sexually transmitted bacterium, while C. pneumoniae is a respiratory pathogen responsible for community-acquired pneumonia. Patients with reactive arthritis show evidence of present or past Chlamydial infection. Chlamydia spp., has been strongly implicated as a triggering factor for reactive arthritis. We describe the simultaneous occurrence of C. pneumoniae and C. trachomatis infections in a subject with reactive arthritis. We suggest treatment for a patient with Chlamydia-associated arthritis to define a means by which persistent organisms can be induced to return to the active developmental cycle, thereby making them more accessible to antibiotic activity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Arthritis, Reactive / etiology*
  • Arthritis, Reactive / microbiology
  • Chlamydia Infections / complications*
  • Chlamydia Infections / microbiology
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / genetics
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / isolation & purification
  • Chlamydophila Infections / complications*
  • Chlamydophila Infections / microbiology
  • Chlamydophila pneumoniae / genetics
  • Chlamydophila pneumoniae / isolation & purification
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • DNA, Bacterial / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial