Dr. Poehlmann’s ongoing Chlamydia research explores the link between this bacterial infection and heart disease, arterial plaque, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, and shortened lifespan.
It now appears that persistent C. pneumoniae
infections among humans are widespread, to an estimated 50% infection rate in
the United States.
Specific animal reservoirs that may lead to human infections are not well traced to the breakouts and epidemics of the C. pneumoniae respiratory invasion in humans. Animal reservoirs of such infection cited are birds and chickens.
There are two distinct Chlamydia epidemics to contend with:
• C. trachomatis
acute symptoms are clearly evident in the infected persons.
• C. pneumoniae
appears as a mild form of pneumonia followed by a long term infection that is a
major factor in stroke, dementia, heart disease and arterial scleroses.
C. pneumoniae
is distinctly different from C. trachomatis which is associated with
sexual transmission and a different set of serious inflammatory symptoms.
Genetic similarity between the two strains is only about 10%. Thus to control
both diseases, two distinct vaccines need to be developed. However, a common
antibiotic regimen may be effective against both Chlamydia organisms and
against many other nanobacteria that cause reactive arthritis.
C. pneumoniae
is susceptible to antibiotic treatment. (Refs 3, 4) Successful treatment leads
to statistically significant reductions in severity and incidence of heart and
circulatory problems. The relationship
between C. pneumoniae and Alzheimer’s plaques has not yet been fully
investigated to determine how prophylactic antibiotics may reduce or eliminate
the growth of these plaques. However, it would appear that if appropriate
antibiotics are suitably administered for a long enough time, passing the
blood/brain barrier, that any nanobacterial, and slowly progressing infections
of brain or neural tissue can be eliminated.
The frequently found association of reactive arthritic
nanobacterial infections with prior traumatic sites of synovial and muscular
tissue suggests that traumatic progressive neuropathies may also be susceptible
to successful similar antibiotic treatments.
This remains to be investigated.
March 14, 2002 Sacramento
Bee editorial on
Chlamydia treatment, and Dr. Poehlmann’s response.
Detailed
Chlamydia investigation and statistics:
See Dr Poehlmann’s article published in the Journal of Degenerative Diseases entitled
“Chlamydia Infection Linked to Atherosclerosis and Alzheimer’s Disease”
·
Heart
and arterial diseases ( References 1, 3, 5)
·
Reduction of blood flow
to brain (Reference 2)
·
Antibiotic treatment
(Reference 4)
·
Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
(References 6, 7)
Chlamydia pneumoniae bibliography and references:
1.Danesh J
et al. Chronic infections and coronary heart disease: is there a link? Lancet
1997;350:430-36.
disease
and positive C. pneumoniae serology.
2.Ramirez JA
et al. Isolation of Chlamydia pneumoniae from the coronary artery of a
patient
with coronary atherosclerosis. Ann Intern Med 1996;125:979-82.
Synopsis: Isolated C. pneumoniae microorganisms found in a patient’s coronary artery confirm reduction of blood flow to the heart and to the brain.
3.Gupta S et
al. Elevated Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies, cardiovascular events, and
azithromycin in male survivors of myocardial infarction. Circulation
1997;96:404-7.
Synopsis:
Patients with positive C. pneumoniae serology and coronary artery
disease were
randomized to azithromycin (3-6 days) or placebo. Treatment was
associated with
reduced
cardiovascular events.
4.Gurfinkel
E et al. Randomised trial of roxithromycin in non-Q-wave coronary syndromes:
ROXIS
pilot study. Lancet 1997;350:404-7.
Syopsis:
Patients with unstable angina or non-Q-wave MIs were randomized to
roxithromycin or
placebo.
There was a significant reduction in ischemic events in antibiotic recipients.
5.Juvonen J
et al. Can degenerative aortic valve stenosis be related to persistent Chlamydia
pneumoniae
infection? Ann Intern Med 1998;128:741.
Synopsis:
The authors performed immunohisto-chemistry for C. pneumoniae on aortic
valves
obtained
at 46 consecutive autopsies. Fifteen of 34 normal valves (44%) and 10 of 12
(83%)
with early lesions of degenerative calcification showed evidence for C.
pneumoniae
(P=<0.02). In persons >60 years, the probability of aortic
degenerative changes was
greater
if the valve showed C. pneumoniae (7/8 versus 1/7).
6.Balin B et al. Identification and localization of Chlamydia
pneumoniae in Alzheimer's brain.
Med Microbiol Immunol 1998;187:23.
Synopsis: The authors examined neurotissue from patients with late onset Alzheimer's disease for
comparison with controls. The authors concluded that C. pneumoniae is present, viable and transcriptionally active in areas of neuropathology of AD brain.
7.Morgan, David. Reuters World Report, Aug 11, 1998.
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