title: [Extrapulmonary complications of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of atypical pneumonia in children and young adults. The infection is generally mild and only a very few patients are admitted to hospital. However, extrapulmonary complications are well recognised--mostly as manifestations from the central nervous system (CNS).
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe 21 patients with M. pneumoniae infection seen at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, from 1994 to 2000.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients had fever, headache, myalgia, and cough. Biochemically, they were characterised by leucocytosis, an increased level of C-reactive protein, and infiltrations on the chest x-ray. A total of seven patients developed extrapulmonary complications to the infection in the form of encephalitis (3), polyradiculitis (1), transversel myelitis (1), erythema multiforme (3), cardial arrhythmia (1), and haemolytic anaemia (2). Three patients had more than one complication at the same time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of patients with complications to M. pneumoniae infection was higher than that reported in the literature, probably because these patients are typically submitted to the Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet. The pathogenesis of extrapulmonary complications to M. pneumoniae infection is unknown.
authors.affiliation: baybjoern@stofanet.dk
authors.forename: Anne-Mette Bay
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bjørn
authors.forename: Anne-Mette K
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lebech
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D004892:Erythema Multiforme / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents