Background:
There are conflicting results concerning an association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and MS (multiple sclerosis). In the present study, we investigated a possible therapeutic option with antibiotics.
Patients and Methods:
In our randomized, placebocontrolled double-blind study, 28 patients with the confirmed diagnosis of MS [61% relapsing-remitting
MS (RR-MS), 32% secondary chronic-progressive MS (SP-MS) and 7% primary chronic progressive MS (PP-MS)] were treated over
a time period of 12 months with three cycles of a 6-week oral antibiotic therapy with roxithromycin (300 mg per day) or placebo.
Results:
No significant differences were observed in patients with RR-MS regarding the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and
the relapse rate when comparing treatment with roxithromycin and placebo.
Conclusion:
Our study shows that the patients with MS do not profit from a long-term antibiotic treatment with roxithromycin compared
to placebo treatment. A causative connection between bacterial infections with C. pneumonia and MS therefore does seem very unlikely.