Since 1970, when it was first found in the synovial
fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients, Mycoplasma fermentans has been
suspected of being associated with rheumatoid arthritis, but it may be
associated with other forms of arthritis as well, according to this study.
Other forms of mycoplasma have been proven to cause arthritis in animals.
To summarize the current study:
-
The distribution of M. fermentans was studied
in the synovial fluid of patients suffering from different forms of
arthritis.
-
M. fermentans was detected in 88% of both the
rheumatoid arthritis and non- rheumatoid arthritis patients.
- The other forms of arthritis that it was found
in included:
- gout
- reactive arthritis
- pauciarticular juvenile chronic arthritis
- ankylosing spondylitis
-
psoriatic arthritis
-
Four different strains of the organism were found.
-
It was not detected in any of the osteoarthritis
patients
The authors state that M. fermentans is very common
in non-osteoarthritic patients and may prove to be an important factor
in the treatment of these disorders.
Journal of
Clinical Microbiology January
2000; 38: 90-93