Chlamidia pneumoniae

[987931]

I've searched on this forum but haven't found anything. Apologies if this has been discussed before here.

I am wondering whether anyone has anyone had success with treatment for chlamydia pneumoniae, using combination antibiotic protocols of the kind described on cpnhelp.org? The Chest (Journal) publication Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae in Asthma surely seems compelling where it comes to an association between this bacteria and asthmatic symptoms in at least some people. There's also a review -- Chlamydia pneumoniae, asthma, and COPD: what is the evidence? (pubmed).

Has the asthmastory website been discussed among members here?

From what I can gather, this bacteria may be particularly relevant to so-called late-onset asthma (although people could get the infection at any time and age). For this, and other reasons, I plan to pursue this. I've been given the names of some local doctors who may be more inclined to get tests and/or try the combined antibiotic protocol.

[987931]

Thanks for that info bsml.

Yes, I have a good probiotic that was suggested to my mother by a gastroenterologist from time to time. Thanks for the tip about having them halfway between antibiotic doses.

From the information on cpnhelp.org, a combined antibiotic protocol is advised, as well as some adjunctive treatments. A macrolide (preferably clarithromycin), then doxycycline, then "pulsed" metronidazole. Other protocols have been used also. My mother had a terrible reaction to metronizadole. However, the problem is that if someone does have cpn, they will have a reaction to killing it, due to endotoxin and cytokine reactions, which involves inflammation, fever, and pain. It is hard to get rid of cpn because it exists in three different phases.

Thanks for the suggestion about a bronchoscopy. I have been given the name of respiratory specialists in my area who may be willing to explore this kind of treatment. So I'll be seeing them before it goes anywhere. As for an accurate diagnosis, this sounds great, but from all my homework, it seems the empirical trial approach is probably the best option at the end of the day. PCR testing can pick up cpn (and mycoplasma pn I think) but I gather there are various complicating factors.

I'm still interested to know whether chlamydia pneumoniae has been discussed here. I guess for me it is a no-brainer given I've had late-onset and the published results indicate relevance to this. However, the results seem to me to indicate that anyone who has asthma without a clear cause (i.e. most with it) would do well to invesgtigate whether this is the cause. It seems to me there are strong parallels with h.pylori, though it's hard to say and only time will tell in some respects.

Take care.

Thanks also for the suggestions about

[bsmsl]

You have done some great research.  To my knowlege this has not been discussed here.  

A related problem is mycoplasma pneumonae.  Both are discussed in the article Clarithromycin Targets Neutrophilic Airway Inflammation in Refractory Asthma by Jodie Simpson et all which apeared in American Journal of Respriatory and Critical Care Medicine vol. 177.  The print out of the article I have doesn't have the web address.  I found it by google searching neutrophilic asthma.

Clarithromycin is a very powerful antibiotic and must be taken at high doses for a rather long period of time to treat these infections.  I would strongly suggest that you take a very good probiotic.  I take Solar Ray Multidolphilis-12 every day.  When taking a probiotic with an antibiotic, try to take the probiotic about halfway between antibiotic doses.  If you don't, the antibiotic will kill the beneficial and necessary digestive bacteria you are getting from the probiotic.  After the treatment, I was having bad reflux so I doubled the daily dose for about a month.  My reflux has been well controlled since then.  

The Neutrophilic Asthma treatment helped tremendously for about two weeks when my husband shared a nice para flu virus that almost put me in the hospital.

I had other underliing conditions that still needed to be treated as well.

I would strongly suggest that you request a bronchoscopy before starting the therapy.  It is vital that you have an accurate diagnosis before beginning therapy.  Other things to consider include bronchiecstasis, fungal infection(s), and AERD (aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease).  All of those should be indicated by the bronch biopsies and mucous samples if they are contributing factors.  

Feel better and God bless.