Chlamydia pneumoniae infection-associated erythema multiforme

Abstract

There is a well-known correlation between <em>Herpes simplex</em> (HSV) infection and erythema multiforme (EM). More recently, in Japan, it was found that <em>Chlamydia pneumoniae </em>(Cp) may promote the development of EM. All cases of Cp infection-associated EM that had been diagnosed in our clinic over the past two years (from 2011 to 2012) were analyzed. Cp infection was diagnosed on the basis of a significant increase (&gt;2.00) in anti-Cp IgM titers, as measured by the HITAZYME-ELISA test. There were 7 cases of Cp-EM, one male and 6 females. Median age was 13 years (range 3-29 years). It is recommended that the possible involvement of Cp infection, besides HSV or <em>Mycoplasma pneumoniae</em> infections, should be considered in all cases of EM.