No abstract

Neurological clinical manifestations associated to Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a well known respiratory pathogen, causes several extrapulmonary manifestations, being neurological diseases the most frequent. We present an 8 year old girl, with prolonged fever of unknown origin associated to Mycoplasma pneumoniae complicated with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADE). Other six cases of: aseptic meningitis (1), meningoencephalitis (1), Guillain Barré Syndrome (GBS) (1) and facial paralysis (3) are reported. Pathogenesis of neurological complications associated to M. pneumoniae infection remains unknown, hypothesizing that some of them are due to CNS mycoplasma invasion and those with prolonged prodroms, as ADE, GBS and tranverse myelitis, could be considered immune mediated diseases. In our institution, where mycoplasma PCR detection technics are unavailable, we use mycoplasma IgM antibodies (ELISA) measurement or ascending titers of specific IgG. The impact of antimicrobial treatment to control these neurological symptoms is unclear and prescription of immunomodulation therapy has been promoted by some experts.