[Acute transverse myelitis associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in an eight year old boy]

Med Mal Infect. 2005 Mar;35(3):170-2. doi: 10.1016/j.medmal.2005.03.014.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Many Mycoplasma pneumoniae extra respiratory infections have already been reported. The authors report the case of an eight year old child, presenting with acute transverse myelitis, with a PCR proven involvement of M. pneumoniae in CSF as well as the presence of specific IgM in blood. Acute transverse myelitis may have many causes, most of the time viral. The mechanisms of neurological involvement in M. pneumoniae infections are still unclear, but several points indicate an immune reaction. Corticotherapy first i.v. then per os has proved to be an efficient treatment for acute myelitis. Antibiotherapy is discussed because of the undocumented mechanisms of neurological involvement related to the mycoplasma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Male
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae / genetics
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae / pathogenicity*
  • Myelitis, Transverse / drug therapy
  • Myelitis, Transverse / microbiology*
  • Myelitis, Transverse / pathology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Immunoglobulin M