Isolation of Bedsoniae from the Joints of Patients with Reiter's Syndrome.

Abstract

Studies in 16 patients with Reiter's syndrome, consisting of arthritis, urethritis and/or conjunctivitis, suggest that bedsoniae (psittacosis-lymphogranuloma vene-reum-trachoma group of microorganisms) may play a role in arthritis in man. Attempts to isolate bedsoniae from synovial material or urethral and conjunctival scrapings from 8 patients were successful in 5 instances. Five of the 16 patients had significant complement-fixation liters against a psittacosis group antigen.