Mycoplasma pneumoniae and central nervous system complications: A review

Mycoplasma pneumoniae as an Under- Recognized Agent of Vasculitic Disorders

“…Because of its diverse distribution of affected areas, an indirect mechanism has been postulated, namely, immune complexmediated vasculopathy [Behan et al, 1986;Guleria et al, 2005;Gupta et al, 2009]. On the other hand, recent studies on patients with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis have demonstrated the presence of M. pneumoniae genome in the cerebrospinal fluid [Matsumoto et al, 2009;Riedel et al, 2001;Yiş et al, 2008], or the presence of M. pneumoniae antigens inside the macrophages in the brain tissue [Stamm et al, 2008].…”

Mycoplasma pneumonia as a cause of neuromyelitis optica?

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On the other hand, several neurological manifestations have been described following Mycoplasma pneumonia [4,5] infection, a common bacterium of the respiratory tract, including acute transverse myelitis (ATM) [11].Here we present a patient with typical NMO after M. pneumonia infection that may represent an underestimated etiology for NMO. A previously healthy 32-year-old woman developed fever and a nonproductive cough.

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“…Both direct CNS infection and an autoimmune mechanism triggered by M. pneumonia are possible. Since direct PCR evidence for M. pneumonia is only seldom found in CSF [11], it is often difficult to differentiate between both possibilities [5]. The clinical syndrome with bilateral optic neuritis and longitudinally extensive myelitis is typical for NMO and, to the best of our knowledge, has not been reported to date in association with M. pneumonia infection.…”

“…On the other hand, several neurological manifestations have been described following Mycoplasma pneumonia [4,5] infection, a common bacterium of the respiratory tract, including acute transverse myelitis (ATM) [11].…”

“…Several neurological complications including ADEM and ATM have been described after M. pneumonia infection [5,9]. Both direct CNS infection and an autoimmune mechanism triggered by M. pneumonia are possible.…”