title: Chlamydia pneumoniae and the risk for exacerbation in multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: In this prospective study of 73 relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients followed up for a mean of 1.7 years, the relation was tested between serologically defined Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP) infection periods and exacerbation rate. Episodes of serologically defined CP infections were observed in a subgroup, and these episodes were associated with increased risk for exacerbation. CP polymerase chain reaction was positive in most of the CP seropositive patients. No correlation was found between the anti-CP antibody increase and titers of control antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buljevac
authors.forename: Roel P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Verkooyen
authors.forename: Bart C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hop
authors.forename: Liesbeth A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: van der Zwaan
authors.forename: Pieter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: van Doorn
authors.forename: Rogier Q
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: Hintzen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000382:microbiology*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000382:microbiology; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors