Chlamydia May Cause Type of Arthritis Known as Undifferentiated Spondyloarthropathy

Chlamydia infection may play a role in undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy -- a sub-group of arthritis with commonalities that include inflammatory back pain and enthesitis but which lack distinct diagnostic characteristics associated with other spondyarthropathies. The other spondyloarthropathies include:

• ankylosing spondylitis
• psoriatic arthritis
• reactive arthritis
• arthritis related to inflammatory bowel disease

According to the May 1, 2009 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, it is known that Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae frequently cause reactive arthritis. Researchers studied whether there was also a connection between Chlamydia and undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy when compared to osteoarthritis which was used as the control. The rate of chlamydia infection in the patients with undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy was 62 percent, compared with 12 percent in the control group. Researchers concluded that in many patients with undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy, chlamydia infection may be the cause -- even when it is occult (hidden).

Related Resources:

• What Is Enthesitis?
• Guide to Reactive Arthritis
• Fast Facts About Ankylosing Spondylitis
• 10 Things You Should Know About Psoriatic Arthritis

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