The role of atypical organisms in asthma.

Daian CM,      Wolff AH,      Bielory L     

Asthma
Chlamydia pneumoniae
Chlamydia Infections
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Opportunistic Infections
Pneumonia, Mycoplasma
Adolescence
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Child
Child, Preschool

Female
Human
Male
Middle Age
Prognosis
Randomized Controlled Trials
Risk Assessment
Review
Review, Tutorial
Medline Database
Healthstar Database

Abstract
Atypical organisms (Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae) have been recently linked to asthma in various ways: an infection with these organisms may precede asthma onset, exacerbate asthma, or make asthma control more difficult.  Their ability to elicit a TH2 response and promote airway inflammation may be the common pathway in the development of an atopic inflammatory response.  This article presents a summary of the evidence that infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae or Mycoplasma pneumoniae may play a significance role in asthma.

UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Newark
USA.