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Chlamydia infection may contribute to development of ocular lymphoma

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Persistent infection with Chlamydia psittaci may contribute to the development of ocular adnexal lymphomas, a study by Italian researchers suggests.

The study, conducted by Andrés J. M. Ferreri, MD, and colleagues in Milan and Aviano, found that 32 out of 40 (80%) samples of ocular adnexal lymphoma tested positive for C. psittaci DNA, while all samples tested negative for C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae.

C. psittaci DNA was found in none of 20 non-neoplastic orbital biopsies (P < .001) and in only three of 26 (12%) reactive lymphadenopathy samples (P < .001).

Additionally, C. psittaci DNA was found in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) among nine of 21 patients (43%) with Chlamydia-positive lymphomas, but in none of 38 healthy control patients (P < .001).

The authors noted that in seven patients who underwent treatment with doxycycline, chlamydial DNA was no longer detected in the PBMCs at 1 month after treatment. An objective response was also observed in two of four evaluable patients, they said.

The study is published in Journal of the National Cancer Institute.