Study on Association of Recent and Past Chlamydophila pneumoniae Infection with Classic Multiple Sclerosis

Aims: We conducted this study to determine if there is any correlation between Classical Multiple Sclerosis and Chlamydophilia pneumoniae infection by ELISA (IgM, IgG, IgA).

Study Design: cross sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: The present study was performed in the Department of Microbiology, Guilan University of Medical Sciences between April 2012 and April 2013

Methodology: Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection certified by ELISA in patients (n=46) and control (n=46) using commercial assays (anti- C. pneumoniae IgG, anti- C. pneumoniae IgM, and anti- C. pneumoniae IgA kits). Data were analyzed by using four statistical tests (Pearson chi square, Kendall's tau, and Spearman's rho).

Results: Seropositivity to anti- C. pneumoniae IgG was seen less frequently in patients versus controls (69.0% versus 81.4%; P=0.187). Seropositivity to anti- C. pneumoniae IgA was also observed less frequently in patients than in controls (7.2 % versus 11.6%; P= 0.479).However anti- C. pneumoniae IgM antibodies were seen more often in classical multiple sclerosis patients than it was in controls ( 11.9% versus 2.3%; P= 0.085).

Conclusion: We concluded that recent or past C. pneumoniae infection has no correlation in initiation or protection of CMS.