Evidence for infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae in a subgroup of patients with multiple sclerosis

Ann Neurol. 2000 May;47(5):652-5.

Abstract

In a pilot study, we identified Chlamydia pneumoniae in the cerebrospinal fluid by polymerase chain reaction in 5 of 10 patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS). In a second series, 2 of 20 patients with definite MS and 3 of 17 patients with possible/probable MS or MS variants, but none of 56 patients with other neurological, diseases were polymerase chain reaction-positive. We confirm that C. pneumoniae can be found in the cerebrospinal fluid of MS patients, but our rate of positive results is lower than in a recent report.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Chlamydia Infections / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Chlamydia Infections / complications*
  • Chlamydia Infections / diagnosis
  • Chlamydophila pneumoniae / isolation & purification*
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Multiple Sclerosis / complications*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / microbiology
  • Myelitis / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Myelitis / microbiology
  • Neuromyelitis Optica / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Neuromyelitis Optica / microbiology
  • Pilot Projects
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial