Asthma and Chlamydia pneumoniae. A future prospect for macrolides in general and roxithromycin in particular

UNLABELLED: A LOGICAL HYPOTHESIS: Recent publications raise the question of an association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and asthma. There has been no formal proof justifying routine search for C.pneumoniae in patients with uncontrolled asthma nor for systematic treatment with an antibiotic. OPEN QUESTIONS: Can Chlamydia pneumoniae infection initiate or aggravate asthma? Are acute manifestations of asthma associated with an overly high frequency of recent C.pneumoniae infection? Is a past history of C.pneumoniae infection abnormally frequent in patients with chronic asthma? PERSPECTIVES: Rigorously controlled clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of antibiotics such as macrolides which are active against C.pneumoniae are warranted to further elucidate these questions.