Boman J, Gaydos C A
Dept. of Clinical Virology, Umeâ University Hospital, S-901 85 Umeâ, Sweden.
J Infect Dis. 2000 Jun;181 Suppl 3:S452-4. doi: 10.1086/315609.
Several recently published studies suggest that Chlamydia pneumoniae may represent a risk factor for atherosclerosis or its complications. In order to establish whether C. pneumoniae is causally linked to atherosclerotic diseases, clinical intervention trials may be needed. However, to identify eligible subjects with a persistent C. pneumoniae infection and to monitor the effect of antibiotic therapy, there is a need for a reliable diagnostic marker. Blood-based polymerase chain reaction assays may be of value for identifying patients persistently infected with C. pneumoniae and for assessing the microbiologic efficacy of antichlamydial therapy in clinical intervention trials.
最近发表的几项研究表明，肺炎衣原体可能是动脉粥样硬化或其并发症的一个危险因素。为了确定肺炎衣原体是否与动脉粥样硬化疾病存在因果关系，可能需要进行临床干预试验。然而，为了识别患有持续性肺炎衣原体感染的合格受试者并监测抗生素治疗的效果，需要一种可靠的诊断标志物。基于血液的聚合酶链反应检测对于识别持续感染肺炎衣原体的患者以及评估抗衣原体治疗在临床干预试验中的微生物学疗效可能具有价值。
