Chlamydia Pneumoniae

[tara]

Chlamydia Pneumoniae in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia - An Opinion, by Patient Advocate James Kepner --http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/7938

What is Chlamydia pneumoniae? Extensive information about this organism and associated research is offered at the Cpnhelp.org site and in this article. Briefly, Chlamydia pneumoniae is a bacterial organism [parasite] first described in 1988 that is most commonly contracted by breathing droplets floating in the air after a person who carries it has coughed - as with the organism that causes tuberculosis.

Cpn can then infect the "mucous-moving" cells lining the airways. It can paralyze those cells because it survives by stealing their energy, and may cause a serious respiratory infection. Then, if the body's immune response is unable to kill the invading Cpn bacteria, they can be disseminated via "mononuclear cells" in the bloodstream to infect other cells in the body, such as those that line the blood vessels, nerve tissues, brain, muscles, and even immune cells. There again Cpn bacteria metabolize and damage these cells by "stealing" energy. Further, the Cpn bacteria are drawn to newly formed mononuclear blood cells, which tend to be generated where there is inflammation in the body - and where the Cpn can cause a secondary infection. And finally, Cpn passes through three forms in its life cycle, so that research indicates a combination of antibiotics may be necessary to kill it off in all forms.

"If you have inflammation, a spider bite, a viral joint infection, viral meningitis, or encephalitis," Dr. Stratton has said, "it doesn't matter what it is, if a Chlamydia-infected cell happens to end up in that inflamed area, you may have just started yourself a Chlamydia farm." In which case Chlamydia may not be the cause of the disease, but may play an important role in its progression.

A Remarkable Finding

In this research, Doctors Cheney, Peterson, and Bell sent blood samples from their own CFS patients to Dr. Stratton's Vanderbilt Chlamydia pneumoniae Research Lab for testing. According to Dr. Stratton, they tested hundreds if not thousands of such blood samples. These were tested using both ELISA-based serologic methods and PCR [polymerase chain reaction] testing using the tests developed by Stratton, et al. at the Vanderbilt Cpn lab. Dr. Stratton's lab found that the majority (almost 100%) of CFS patients were PCR positive for Cpn [Chlamydia pneumoniae] in blood samples.

That the selected patient group of CFS patients had almost 100% positive PCR tests for Cpn - Chlamydia Pneumoniae (actual proteins, which means actual presence of the bacterial particles - not only an antigen response, which could be a remnant from prior infection) is an extraordinary finding. Further, the majority also had either elevated IgM or IgG antibodies to Cpn major outer membrane protein, cross-confirming the PCR-based findings.

Of course, this in and of itself does not mean Cpn is the cause of CFS. The presence of Cpn could be due to some third factor that is part of CFS (such as immuno-suppression, etc). But such a high correlation with one specific organism outweighs every other biological finding to date in CFS research. No other single variable in the CFS literature even comes close to being found in near 100% of CFS patients.

[tara]

A recent North American study detected Chlamydia pneumoniae in 17 of 19 brains of Alzheimer's patients and supposed a C. pneumoniae infection to be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD)

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art...gi?artid=86233

[tara]

An epidemiological study revealed a seroprevalence in the adult population of approximately 80% (4). C. pneumoniae has been identified as a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia, pharyngitis, and bronchitis. Serological and molecular biological evidence suggests a strong association between a previous or persistent C. pneumoniae infection and arteriosclerosis. Recently, C. pneumoniae was reported to be cultivated from the cerebrospinal fluid of a patient with multiple sclerosis.

[tara]

After much controversy a considerable body of evidence now demonstrates a causal connection between chronic infection with the primary respiratory pathogen Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumoniae and at least some variants of the neurological disease Multiple Sclerosis. These web-pages review the evidence. References are cited.

Treatment of chronic infection with this organism is regarded as highly problematic. Some authorities claim that total eradication is not possible. These pages suggest a possible schedule of treatment which may be expected to address all phases of the organism's life-cycle.

http://www.davidwheldon.co.uk/ms-treatment.html

[Kritters]

Hi Tara,
I don't know who you are, or what you do, but I want to thank you for all the informative and, I believe relative posts here.

xoKritts

[niecy]

Tara, I sent you a pm. xxNiecy

Originally Posted by kritters

Hi Tara,
I don't know who you are, or what you do, but I want to thank you for all the informative and, I believe relative posts here.

xoKritts

[tara]

Thank you, kritters. I am glad that my research has proved useful to you.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/502525

In fewer than 500 words, a group of scientists from Johns Hopkins and Hahnemann Schools of Medicine changed the field of Alzheimer's disease. They demonstrated that Alzheimer's could be due to an infection by Chlamydia pneumoniae, ... bacteria [parasite]. How politically insensitive! Imagine that we "caught" our Alzheimer's from friends or even strangers! It turns out that bacteria called Helicobacter cause most stomach and duodenal ulcers.

It was a careful study. Chlamydia pneumoniae is a small bacteria. It is usually isolated from the throat, nose and sinuses. Chlamydia can manage to live inside the cells of its host human for years. As such it is very resistant to most antibiotics. Chlamydia has been implicated as the cause of "culture negative" earaches, sore throats, and sinusitis.

IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS CHLAMYDIA HAS BEEN CONSIDERED AS THE CAUSE OF EMPHYSEMA, AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASES SUCH AS SARCOIDOSIS, AND EVEN CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE. IT SEEMS THAT CHLAMYDIA ALSO LIKES TO LIVE IN FATTY PLAQUES LINING ARTERIES.

This study was exquisite. It first showed fragments of Chlamydia DNA in the brains of 17 of 19 Alzheimer's brains. Analysis of 19 age-matched control brains did not show fragments of Chlamydia DNA in 18 cases. Next the scientist stained the brains of Alzheimer's brains with very special stains that tag only Chlamydia antibodies. When they looked under the microscope, they found the Chlamydia. The staining was concentrated in the same areas of the brain most severely affected by the ravages of Alzheimer's disease! Next they looked with the electron microscope at the Alzheimer's patients' damaged nerve cells. With this powerful microscope, they found Chlamydia structures inside nerve cells (vegetative form) and surrounding nerve cells (infectious form). They found the bacteria in the middle of the tau and ß-amyloid. Finally, the scientists did the specialized culture necessary to grow Chlamydia on fresh brain material.

They actually grew Chlamydia from the two Alzheimer's samples. They failed to grow the bacteria from the two control brains.

The evidence for Chlamydia being involved is pretty convincing. However, did it cause the damage of Alzheimer's? OR did the damage of Alzheimer's allow the Chlamydia to come into the brain? http://www.memoryrevitalizer.net/tex.../article6.html

Well-known independent risk factors for atherosclerosis include hypertension, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolemia;

YET THESE DO NOT EXPLAIN ALL FORMS OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS.[1] In addition to a response-to-injury model, the presence of inflammatory cell infiltrates in atherosclerotic plaques suggests immune-mediated inflammatory disease, possibly caused by infectious agents.[2] An elevated serum concentration of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), an inflammatory marker, is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular disease, including stroke, coronary artery disease, and peripheral arterial disease.[3–5]
CHLAMYDIA PNEUMONIAE ( C. PNEUMONIAE ), WHICH COMMONLY CAUSES ASYMPTOMATIC ACUTE RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION FOLLOWED BY LIFELONG CHRONIC INFECTION, has been particularly associated with incipient and advanced atherosclerosis.[6,7] C. pneumoniae has been detected in atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries, in abdominal aortic aneurysms, in atherosclerotic carotid arteries, and most recently in specimens from atherosclerotic middle cerebral arteries using methods including immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, amplification of genomic material using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and electron microscopy.[8–10] Several studies demonstrated higher titers of specific anti- C. pneumoniae antibodies in patients with cerebrovascular disease than in controls,[11–13] and a prospective study indicated that high antibody titers to C. pneumoniae were associated with increased risk of future stroke.[14]

Association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and acute myocardial infarction in young men in the United States military -- http://www.theheartattackgerm.com/th...t.htm#06-04-06

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin Medical School devised a study(4) to see if young men infected with the bacteria Chlamydia pneumoniae -- the Heart Attack Germ -- are more likely to suffer heart attacks than similar men not infected by the germ. A Reuters news story titled Cold Bug Tied to Heart Attack in Younger Men reported on the study. In part, the article noted:

Christine Arcari and colleagues at the University of Wisconsin Medical School and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore studied regular blood samples taken from soldiers aged between 30 and 50, identifying 300 of them who suffered heart attacks.

They compared their blood records to 300 men who had not suffered heart attacks.
Writing in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, the researchers said they tested each blood sample for antibodies, which provide indirect evidence of previous infection. ...
Men who had high levels of ... antibodies were more likely to have had serious heart attacks, they found. And the more recent the infection, the more likely they were to have suffered a heart attack.

The article concluded:

The findings add to a growing body of evidence that Chlamydia pneumoniae and perhaps other infections can sometimes damage the heart and arteries, causing heart disease.(5)

[niecy]

Tara, hi, i was just wondering if you could point me in the right direction of where to get the specific dosages on the vitamins and supplements, when on the treatment for cpn. I have found them, and written them all down, but I can't find the amounts I shlould take. If you know a link that would help me I would appreciate it. I have the handbook loaded if it is in it, maybe you know where? I am supposed to have already started, but trying to get the Penicillamine in the correct dose, can't get them in pill formula. If you or anyone else knows what they are, or where to tell me to find them I would really appreciate it. Thanks, Niecy

Originally Posted by tara

Thank you, kritters. I am glad that my research has proved useful to you.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/502525

In fewer than 500 words, a group of scientists from Johns Hopkins and Hahnemann Schools of Medicine changed the field of Alzheimer's disease. They demonstrated that Alzheimer's could be due to an infection by Chlamydia pneumoniae, ... bacteria [parasite]. How politically insensitive! Imagine that we "caught" our Alzheimer's from friends or even strangers! It turns out that bacteria called Helicobacter cause most stomach and duodenal ulcers.

It was a careful study. Chlamydia pneumoniae is a small bacteria. It is usually isolated from the throat, nose and sinuses. Chlamydia can manage to live inside the cells of its host human for years. As such it is very resistant to most antibiotics. Chlamydia has been implicated as the cause of "culture negative" earaches, sore throats, and sinusitis.

IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS CHLAMYDIA HAS BEEN CONSIDERED AS THE CAUSE OF EMPHYSEMA, AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASES SUCH AS SARCOIDOSIS, AND EVEN CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE. IT SEEMS THAT CHLAMYDIA ALSO LIKES TO LIVE IN FATTY PLAQUES LINING ARTERIES.

This study was exquisite. It first showed fragments of Chlamydia DNA in the brains of 17 of 19 Alzheimer's brains. Analysis of 19 age-matched control brains did not show fragments of Chlamydia DNA in 18 cases. Next the scientist stained the brains of Alzheimer's brains with very special stains that tag only Chlamydia antibodies. When they looked under the microscope, they found the Chlamydia. The staining was concentrated in the same areas of the brain most severely affected by the ravages of Alzheimer's disease! Next they looked with the electron microscope at the Alzheimer's patients' damaged nerve cells. With this powerful microscope, they found Chlamydia structures inside nerve cells (vegetative form) and surrounding nerve cells (infectious form). They found the bacteria in the middle of the tau and ß-amyloid. Finally, the scientists did the specialized culture necessary to grow Chlamydia on fresh brain material.

They actually grew Chlamydia from the two Alzheimer's samples. They failed to grow the bacteria from the two control brains.

The evidence for Chlamydia being involved is pretty convincing. However, did it cause the damage of Alzheimer's? OR did the damage of Alzheimer's allow the Chlamydia to come into the brain? http://www.memoryrevitalizer.net/tex.../article6.html

Well-known independent risk factors for atherosclerosis include hypertension, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolemia;

YET THESE DO NOT EXPLAIN ALL FORMS OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS.[1] In addition to a response-to-injury model, the presence of inflammatory cell infiltrates in atherosclerotic plaques suggests immune-mediated inflammatory disease, possibly caused by infectious agents.[2] An elevated serum concentration of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), an inflammatory marker, is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular disease, including stroke, coronary artery disease, and peripheral arterial disease.[3–5]
CHLAMYDIA PNEUMONIAE ( C. PNEUMONIAE ), WHICH COMMONLY CAUSES ASYMPTOMATIC ACUTE RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION FOLLOWED BY LIFELONG CHRONIC INFECTION, has been particularly associated with incipient and advanced atherosclerosis.[6,7] C. pneumoniae has been detected in atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries, in abdominal aortic aneurysms, in atherosclerotic carotid arteries, and most recently in specimens from atherosclerotic middle cerebral arteries using methods including immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, amplification of genomic material using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and electron microscopy.[8–10] Several studies demonstrated higher titers of specific anti- C. pneumoniae antibodies in patients with cerebrovascular disease than in controls,[11–13] and a prospective study indicated that high antibody titers to C. pneumoniae were associated with increased risk of future stroke.[14]

Association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and acute myocardial infarction in young men in the United States military -- http://www.theheartattackgerm.com/th...t.htm#06-04-06

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin Medical School devised a study(4) to see if young men infected with the bacteria Chlamydia pneumoniae -- the Heart Attack Germ -- are more likely to suffer heart attacks than similar men not infected by the germ. A Reuters news story titled Cold Bug Tied to Heart Attack in Younger Men reported on the study. In part, the article noted:

Christine Arcari and colleagues at the University of Wisconsin Medical School and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore studied regular blood samples taken from soldiers aged between 30 and 50, identifying 300 of them who suffered heart attacks.

They compared their blood records to 300 men who had not suffered heart attacks.
Writing in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, the researchers said they tested each blood sample for antibodies, which provide indirect evidence of previous infection. ...
Men who had high levels of ... antibodies were more likely to have had serious heart attacks, they found. And the more recent the infection, the more likely they were to have suffered a heart attack.

The article concluded:

The findings add to a growing body of evidence that Chlamydia pneumoniae and perhaps other infections can sometimes damage the heart and arteries, causing heart disease.(5)

[Jason]

Niecy,

See link http://www.cpnhelp.org/publicimages/AllSupplements.pdf

It's in the handbook - it shows dosages make sure you take supplements 2 hours away from any antibiotics to ensure you get the most out of the treatment

[niecy]

Jason, thank you again. I am sorry to be such a bother. I have the handbook loaded, but I guess I was looking too hard. I printed all of this link you gave me for the supplements. Did you take all of these supplements with the protocol?? Do you have anykind of schedule, I am about to try to make me one, so I will know when to take each medication, and each supplement. This looks pretty mind boggling for me, like my diet has just changed from food to vitamins and antibiotics. I am definitly going to have to work on this insomnia thing. thanks Niecy

Originally Posted by Jason

Niecy,

See link http://www.cpnhelp.org/publicimages/AllSupplements.pdf

It's in the handbook - it shows dosages make sure you take supplements 2 hours away from any antibiotics to ensure you get the most out of the treatment