DEMONSTRATION OF CHLAMYDIA-PNEUMONIAE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC PHARYNGITIS

12 patients with longstanding throat symptoms, who were also positive by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for Chlamydia pneumoniae were selec ted for a longitudinal study to determine whether C. pneumoniae is an aetiological agent for chronic pharyngitis, Specimens for culture and PCR detection of C. pneumoniae were taken from the retropharyngeal wal l and blood specimens were taken for serology, Biopsies were taken fro m the mucosal membrane of the retropharyngeal wall for histological an d immunohistochemical studies, C. pneumoniae nas cultured from 4 cases . 10 patients had specific humoral antibodies to C. pneumoniae and 9 h ad high and increasing specific antibody titres to C. pneumoniae sugge sting ongoing infection. The organism was demonstrated in the tissue f rom the retropharyngeal mucosal membrane by immunohistochemistry in 9 patients. The findings suggest that C. pneumoniae may be an aetiologic al agent for chronic pharyngitis.