Molecular detection of Parachlamydia-like organisms in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis

Mult Scler. 2008 May;14(4):564-6. doi: 10.1177/1352458507085796.

Abstract

The presence of Chlamydia-like organism DNA was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 27 patients previously found positive for Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA: 12 with multiple sclerosis (MS), grouped according to clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of disease activity, 8 with other inflammatory neurological disorders and 7 with non-inflammatory neurological disorders. PCR evidence of Chlamydia-like organisms in CSF was observed only in two relapsing-remitting MS patients with clinical and MRI disease activity. These findings suggest a possible association between C. pneumoniae and Chlamydia-like organism brain infections as a cofactor in MS development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chlamydiales / genetics*
  • Chlamydiales / isolation & purification*
  • Chlamydophila Infections / complications*
  • Chlamydophila pneumoniae*
  • DNA, Bacterial / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / microbiology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial