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Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection of the central nervous system in patients with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Background:Chlamydophila pneumoniae has been postulated as an aetiological agent in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis. Previous studies show conflicting results.

Objective: To investigate patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases for evidence of past or present infection with C pneumoniae.

Methods: 19 patients with multiple sclerosis and 29 with other neurological diseases were studied. Evidence was sought for past or present infection with C pneumoniae using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cell culture of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and microimmunofluorescence of serum.

Results:Cpneumoniae was grown from the CSF of one patient with multiple sclerosis. PCR was negative in all cases. Anti-chlamydial antibodies were detected in the same proportion in each group.

Conclusions: This study does not support the theory of an association between C pneumoniae and multiple sclerosis.

  • multiple sclerosis
  • chlamydophila pneumoniae
  • MIF, microimmunofluorescence
  • ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
  • ELONA, enzyme-linked oligonucleotide assay
  • PCR, polymerase chain reaction
  • RFLP, restriction fragment length polymorphism

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