JOURNAL ARTICLE
RESEARCH SUPPORT, NON-U.S. GOV'T
RESEARCH SUPPORT, U.S. GOV'T, NON-P.H.S.
RESEARCH SUPPORT, U.S. GOV'T, P.H.S.
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Molecular detection of bacterial DNA in venereal-associated arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification in detecting DNA from venereal-associated microorganisms in the synovial fluid of patients with inflammatory arthritis.

METHODS: Oligonucleotide primers were developed for nested PCR based on Chlamydia, Ureaplasma, and Neisseria DNA sequences. PCR products were detected by gel electrophoresis and dot-blot hybridization. Primers specific for the target bacterial DNA were used to search for bacterial DNA in 61 synovial fluid specimens from patients with inflammatory arthritis, including several clinically associated with venereal infection.

RESULTS: Five of the 61 synovial fluid specimens were positive for Neisseria gonorrhoeae DNA. Four of the 5 patients had clinical diagnoses of gonococcal arthritis; the other patient had an unexplained monarthritis. One specimen from a patient with a clinical diagnosis of gonococcal arthritis was negative for N gonorrhoeae. Three of the 61 specimens were positive for Chlamydia DNA. Two were derived from patients with clinical diagnoses of reactive arthritis or Reiter's syndrome, and 1 was from a patient with unexplained monarthritis. One of the 61 specimens was positive from Ureaplasma DNA; this sample was from a patient with a clinical diagnosis of Reiter's syndrome. In an additional patient with Reiter's syndrome, Ureaplasma DNA was also found in prostate biopsy tissue and a urine sample obtained after prostate massage (synovial fluid not available).

CONCLUSION: These data support the classification of these 3 venereal-associated arthritides as infectious processes, and suggest that PCR for bacterial DNA is a useful method for detecting infectious agents in synovial fluid.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app