ACUTE TRANSVERSE MYELITIS INDUCED BY MYCO PLASMA-PNEUMONIAE INFECTION

A twenty-six year old man was admitted for febrile atypical pneumoniae . Few hours later, he presented an acute flaccid paraplegia with dorsa l pain. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed a high leukocyte count wit h raised protein level. Neuroradiological examinations (myelography an d MRI) were normal. Seric immunological disorders were reported. High complement-fixing antibody titers to Mycoplasma pneumoniae were found in the serum and in the CSF. The patient was treated with antibiotic a nd corticosteroids. He improved dramatically within one month. Neurolo gical complications of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections have been desc ribed (meningoencephalitis, meningitidis, polyradiculoneuropathies, ce rebellar ataxia, cranial nerve palsies). Nineteen cases of transverse myelitis induced by Mycoplasma pneumoniae has been previously reported . Pathophysiological mechanisms of nervous system complications induce d by Mycoplasma pneumoniae were discussed. Vascular mechanisms, direct invasion by the pathogen, toxinic, immunological causes were examined .