Reliable diagnosis of respiratory infection due to Chlamydia pneumoniae and investigation of its role in chronic diseases remain difficult because of the absence of well-standardized and commercially available diagnostic tests. In 2001, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published recommendations for standardizing the diagnostic approach. In this review, we discuss the current st...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The mechanisms of immune reaction involved in the pathogenesis and clinical course of acute vascular incidents are still not completely understood. The aim of this study was to examine the presence of immune complexes (IC) in the acute stroke setting and the first month thereafter and to characterize IC by analyzing the contents of chlamydial lipopolysaccharide and anti-c...

The antigen-specific serological response to Chlamydia pneumoniae was studied in 45 adults with coronary artery atherosclerosis and compared with that in 40 adults with acute respiratory infection. C. pneumoniae antigen and DNA were detected in lesions more frequently in patients with low immunoglobulin G titers against C. pneumoniae than in those with high immunoglobulin G titers. Reactivities...

The reported rate of detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA within atherosclerotic lesions by PCR varies between 0 and 100%. In this study, identical sets of coded experimental atheroma samples (n = 15) and spiked controls (n = 5) were analyzed by 16 test methods in nine centers by means of PCR. The positive controls were correctly identified to levels of 1, 0.1, and 0.01 inclusion bodies of C. ...

We describe an outbreak of familial infection of Chlamydia pneumoniae, an etiological agent for respiratory tract infections. In a family member detection of C. pneumoniae on a pharyngeal swab by polymerase chain reaction was positive until four months after the onset of symptoms, despite a course of antibiotics known to be effective against Chlamydia species

Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) could have three distinguishable causal effects as an asthma inducer. First, an acute infection (or reactivation of a latent infection) could cause an acute worsening of preexisting asthma. Indeed, it is generally accepted that acute Cpn infection can cause some acute asthma exacnhations('~*) but most evidence suggests that other organisms [mainly respiratory viruses,...

BACKGROUND Chlamydia pneumoniae has been hypothesized to play a role in atherothrombosis. However, prospective data relating exposure to Chlamydia pneumoniae and risks of future myocardial infarction (MI) are sparse. METHODS AND RESULTS In a prospective cohort of nearly 15 000 healthy men, we measured IgG antibodies directed against Chlamydia pneumoniae in blood samples collected at baseline ...

Chlamydia species are susceptible in vitro to certain antibiotics, and various tetracyclines, macrolides, and fluoroquinolones are used for the treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis infections. Less is known about the in vitro susceptibility and chemical response to infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae. Results of in vitro studies from the literature and from my laboratory employing a tissue cultur...

AIMS To examine the species specificity of the microimmunofluorescence test (MIF) and assess a time resolved fluoroscopic immunoassay (TRIA) for measuring IgG antibodies to C pneumoniae. METHODS Sera from 1020 subjects were tested by MIF for IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies to C pneumoniae, C trachomatis, and C psittaci; 501 serum samples were also tested by TRIA for IgG antibodies to C pneumonia...