Reactive arthritis and internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine if temporomandibular joint (TMJ) samples positive for Chlamydia trachomatis have a greater presence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) or interleukin-6 (IL-6) when compared with Chlamydia-negative samples.


METHODS
Posterior bilaminar tissue samples removed during TMJ surgery from 70 patients were evaluated. Cryosections were stained using monoclonal antibody that identifies C. trachomatis. The presence of IL-6 and TNFalpha were evaluated by immunostaining in 15 samples positive and in 25 samples negative for the presence of C. trachomatis.


RESULTS
Of the 70 TMJ samples, 32 (46%) were positive for C. trachomatis. In 15 samples positive for C. trachomatis, 10 (67%) were positive for TNFalpha and 7 (47%) for IL-6. In 25 samples negative for C. trachomatis, only 4 (16%) were positive for TNFalpha and only 2 (8%) for IL-6. Differences in C. trachomatis-positive samples versus negative were significant for both TNFalpha (P < .002) and IL-6 (P < .008).


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of C. trachomatis in the TMJ is associated with a significantly increased presence of TNFalpha and IL-6.
Henry
Charles H
CH
Keene, NH, USA. chenry@pol.net <chenry@pol.net>
Whittum-Hudson
Judith A
JA
Tull
Gregory T
GT
Wolford
Larry M
LM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis*; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000382:microbiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha