An MRI study of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in Italian multiple sclerosis patients.
We amplified sequences of the Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP) major-outer membrane protein in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 23 of 107 (21.5%) relapsing-remitting or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and two of 77 (2.6%) patients with other neurological diseases (OND) (P = 0.00022). CP+ patients showed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of more active disease (P = 0.02) compared to CP- MS patients and tended to have an anticipation of age at disease onset (32.3 +/- 12 versus 28.5 +/- 10 years; P = ns) causing a longer disease duration (7.5 +/- 5 versus 4.4 +/- 4 years; P = 0.016) at the time of clinical evaluation. These findings, although indirectly, suggest that CP infection of the central nervous system (CNS) might affect disease course in a subgroup of MS patients.
Department of Neurosciences, AUSL 2 Caltanissetta, Via G. Cusmano 3, 93100 Caltanissetta, Italy. luigi.grimaldi@hsr.it
L M E
LM
Grimaldi
A
A
Pincherle
F
F
Martinelli-Boneschi
M
M
Filippi
F
F
Patti
A
A
Reggio
D
D
Franciotta
L
L
Allegra
G
G
Comi
F
F
Blasi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000382:microbiology*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000382:microbiology*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial