title: Transverse myelitis associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonitis: a report of two cases.
abstract: The authors report two cases of transverse myelitis due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae occurring during a recent acute infection due to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The clinical picture included weakness of the legs, bladder dysfunction, fever, headache and in one case, a mild confusional state. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed a segmental edema of the lumbar tract and cerebro-spinal fluid analysis showed a mild pleocytosis and an increased level of proteins with a blood-brain barrier damage. The diagnosis of acute infection due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae was made on serological criteria. The patients recovered completely after a 14-day course of an associated regimen with Ciprofloxacin (400 mg/day i.v.) plus prednisone (60 mg/day i.v.). The authors emphasise the immunological disorders in the combined infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae and EBV, supposing that an infective mononucleosis may predispose to mycoplasmic transverse myelitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Filice
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D011241:Prednisone