Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in an adolescent

A 17-year-old boy presented with a severe form of an acute disseminated enc ephalomyelitis (ADEM) with hemiparesis and coma after initial symptoms of a flu-like febrile infection 1 week previously. Titers against Mycoplasma pn eumoniae were significantly increased in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF ). Detection of M. pneumoniae was achieved in the initial CSF sample using M. pneumoniae-specific PCR. The patient improved significantly on antimicro bial therapy with erythromycin and immunosupressive therapy with immunoglob ulins and corticosteroids. This case report demonstrates a well-documented course of a central nervous system (CNS) infection resulting in the ADEM sy ndrome.