title: Chlamydia pneumoniae-specific serum immune complexes in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: The significance of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is unclear. We determined the frequency of serum C. pneumoniae-specific immune complexes in patients with MS, neurological (OND) and healthy controls in a blinded, cross-sectional study. C. pneumoniae immune complexes were detected in 24% (38/156) of MS patients, 16% (11/69) of OND and 15% (77/499) of healthy controls. The odds ratio for all MS patients was 3.95 (95% CI: 2.15 to 7.24; P < 0.0001) accounting for the covariates: sex, age, socio-economic status and area of residence. The odds ratio for recently diagnosed MS patients was 4.33 (95% CI: 1.76 to 10.64; P = 0.001). Systemic C. pneumoniae infection is more frequent in MS patients than the healthy population and occurs early in the course of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Sydney, Blackburn Building, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. jparratt@bigpond.net.au
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parratt
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tavendale
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Riordan
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parratt
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Swingler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000097:blood; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G