Thought this info on Chllamydia Pneumonia was of interest...... Giant cell arteritis is
a serious disease characterized by inflammation of the walls of the
blood vessels (vasculitis). The vessels affected are the arteries (hence the
name "arteritis"). The diagnosis is confirmed with a biopsy of an artery,
usually an artery on the side of the scalp called the temporal artery. Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a disorder of the muscles and
joints of older persons. It is characterized by pain and stiffness, affects both
sides of the body, and involves the shoulders, arms, neck, and buttock areas.
Giant cell arteritis occurs in 10-15% of patients with polymyalgia
rheumatica. The age of affected patients with these conditions is over 50 years.
The onset of giant cell arteritis may be years before, after, or without
accompanying polymyalgia rheumatica. The cause of giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica is unknown.
Recent research has indicated that genetic (inherited) factors play a role in
these diseases. Theories of causes have included viral stimulation of the immune
system in genetically susceptible individuals. Researchers in Germany recently discovered evidence of the presence of a
bacterium, called Chlamydia pneumonia, in the arteries of patients with giant cell
arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica. Dr. Annette D. Wagner and colleagues at Medical School Hanover studied the
temporal artery biopsies of 9 patients with giant cell arteritis, 4 patients
with polymyalgia rheumatica, and 9 arteries from patients without either giant
cell arteritis or polymyalgia rheumatica. The researchers were aware that
respiratory infections are often present in the early stages of patients with
giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica. Furthermore, they appreciated
that the Chlamydia pneumonia bacteria is a common cause of respiratory
infections and used special methods to detect signs of this particular microbe.
The researchers discovered signs of Chlamydia pneumonia bacterium in
the temporal arteries of 8 of 9 giant cell arteritis patients and one of 4
polymyalgia rheumatica patients. None of the 9 temporal arteries of patients
without these diseases had signs of the bacterium. The results of their study were published in the medical journal Arthritis & Rheumatism 2000; 43:1543-1551. The researchers concluded that the Chlamydia pneumonia may play some
role in giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica. They further theorized
that the bacterium may affect the arteries in the elderly because these arteries
may have been damaged by atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), thereby
creating a favorable environment for the bacterium. While the exact role of the bacterium Chlamydia pneumonia in patients
with giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica is not clear, this is very
exciting medical news. Currently, the treatment of giant cell arteritis and
polymyalgia rheumatica typically involves cortisone-related drugs, which can
have serious side effects. The results of this study could lead to new
treatments, including antibiotics!
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