Source
Microbiology Department, University College London Hospitals, London WC1E 6DB, UK. SFurrows@aol.com
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:
C pneumoniae 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.