Chlamydia pneumonia infection and risk of multiple sclerosis: A meta-analysis

The role of infectious agents, including Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn), in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), is still a matter of major contention.

This meta-analysis study aimed to assess the actual involvement of Cpn in MS development.

We undertook a search of international scientific databases to identify eligible studies. We used a random-effects meta-analysis model (REM) to generate the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was calculated using the I² statistic. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were applied to assess the effects of study characteristics and socio-demographic variables on the pooled OR.

We identified 37 studies comprising 51 datasets that satisfied the inclusion criteria. Considering diagnostic methods for Cpn, 26 and 25 datasets used PCR- and serological-based methods, respectively. In PCR-based datasets, REM showed a significant positive association between Cpn infection and the development of MS (OR, 5.29; 95% CI, 3.12-8.97), while a non-significant positive association was achieved in serological-based datasets (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.88-2.03). In subgroup analyses on PCR-based datasets, results were significant for both CSF (OR, 5.70) and serum (OR, 4.84) samples; both healthy (OR, 16.11) and hospital-based (OR, 2.88) controls; and both moderate (OR, 5.14) and high (OR, 5.48) quality studies. In serological-based datasets, only those that used CSF samples yielded significant results (OR, 3.41).

Our findings verify the significant positive relationship between Cpn infection and MS. We advocate prospective cohort studies with lifelong follow-ups and also experimental studies to better understand the role of Cpn in MS development.