AMPLIFICATION OF PLASMID AND CHROMOSOME CHLAMYDIA DNA IN SYNOVIAL-FLUID OF PATIENTS WITH REACTIVE ARTHRITIS AND UNDIFFERENTIATED SERONEGATIVE OLIGOARTHROPATHIES

Objective. To investigate the hypothesis that whole bacteria might be found in the joints of patients with Chlamydia-associated reactive arthritis. Methods. The presence of 2 plasmid- and 2 chromosome-specific sequences of Chlamydia DNA was investigated by amplification with the polymerase chain reaction, in synovial fluid (SF) samples from 71 patients with various arthropathies. Results. Chlamydia DNA was found in SF samples from 22 patients. Conclusion. Whole chlamydiae are likely present in the SF of patients with Chlamydia-associated reactive arthritis.