Introduction and Objectives: Chlamydia pneumoniae is now recognized as an important human pathogen. As an obligate intracellular parasite, it is difficult to detect by routine cultures, can cause chronic infections, and may not elicit an acute inflammatory response. C. pneumoniae is commonly associated with respiratory tract infection, but has also been implicated in the development of coronary artery plaques and chronic inflammatory conditions such as multiple sclerosis. Our recent data using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of urine revealed that 81% of patients with interstitial cystitis (IC) and 16% of controls were positive for C. pneumoniae. These data suggest a potential role for this organism in the development of IC. We present our data using tissue culture detection of C. pneumoniae in both control patients and patients with interstitial cystitis to further investigate this association.
Methods: Seventeen patients with IC as outlined by NIADDK criteria and 6 control patients underwent bladder biopsy. Selection of control patients was limited to those patients without history of irritative voiding symptoms, transitional cell carcinoma or recurrent urinary tract infection. Biopsy specimens were analyzed for C. pneumoniae using standard tissue culture technique.
Results: Of those patients with IC, 82% (14/17) had tissue cultures positive for C. pneumoniae. In control patients, 16% (1/6) had tissue cultures positive for C. pneumoniae (p=0.009).
Conclusions: We found a statistically significant correlation between IC and infection with C. pneumoniae based on tissue culture. These results also parallel those obtained with urine PCR. The possible role of C. pneumoniae in the pathogenesis of IC remains to be determined by further analysis of tissue culture results as well as monitoring patient response to appropriate antimicrobial therapy.