Reactive arthritis and internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint

ObjectiveThe 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 (TNFα) or interleukin-6 (IL-6) when compared with Chlamydia-negative samples.Study designPosterior 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 TNFα were evaluated by immunostaining in 15 samples positive and in 25 samples negative for the presence of C. trachomatis.ResultsOf the 70 TMJ samples, 32 (46%) were positive for C. trachomatis. In 15 samples positive for C. trachomatis, 10 (67%) were positive for TNFα and 7 (47%) for IL-6. In 25 samples negative for C. trachomatis, only 4 (16%) were positive for TNFα and only 2 (8%) for IL-6. Differences in C. trachomatis-positive samples versus negative were significant for both TNFα (P < .002) and IL-6 (P < .008).ConclusionThe presence of C. trachomatis in the TMJ is associated with a significantly increased presence of TNFα and IL-6.