Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection of the central nervous system in patients with multiple sclerosis.

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.