TY - JOUR
TI - Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection and COPD: More evidence for lack of
evidence?
AU - Papaetis, Georgios S.
AU - Anastasakou, Evgenia
AU - Orphanidou, Dora
JO - European Journal of Internal Medicine
PY - 2009
VL - 20
TODO - 6
SP - 579-585
PB - ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
SN - 0953-6205
TODO - 10.1016/j.ejim.2009.05.006
TODO - Chlamydophila pneumoniae; COPD; Exacerbation; MIF
TODO - Chlamydophila pneumoniae has been recognized as a common cause of
respiratory tract infections affecting all age groups. The organism has
been implicated as an infectious trigger for acute exacerbations of
CCPD. Moreover, the intracellular existence of this pathogen and the
ability to cause chronic respiratory infections have led to a number of
studies that investigated its possible association with disease
development. The present paper examines and discusses the possible
association of acute C pneumoniae infection in episodes of acute
exacerbation of COPD. It also reviews the existing evidence of chronic
C. pneumoniae infection with disease pathogenesis and severity. The
significant interstudy variation of the choice of diagnostic methods and
criteria applied is most likely responsible for the great diversity of
results observed. The use of well-standardized, commercially available
diagnostic tools, as well as the adoption of a more unified diagnostic
approach is probably the key element missing in order to clarify the
exact role of C. pneumoniae in COPD. (C) 2009 European Federation of
Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
ER -