Acute motor axonal neuropathy and aseptic meningitis due to aseptic Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis

Introduction. - Central nervous system complications are commonly described in Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis but peripheral nervous system involv ement is rare. Exegesis. - We report the case of a 65-year-old woman who had tetraparesia and aseptic meningitis revealing S. aureus endocarditis. The presence of pu rpura on the lower limbs led to an initial diagnosis of meningococcal menin gitis. Tetraparesia was due to an acute motor axonal neuropathy Anti-GM1 an tibodies were negative. Meningitis and tetraparesia improved with antibioti c therapy. Conclusion. -Acute motor axonal neuropathy maybe a presenting symptom of S. aureus endocarditis. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.