Recurrent optic neuritis associated with Chlamydia pneumoniae infection of the central nervous system.
It has been suggested that Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) is involved in the pathogenesis of diverse diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), including multiple sclerosis. We report the case of a 12-year-old male with isolated recurrent optic neuritis and an associated CNS infection with C. pneumoniae. The patient presented with three attacks of optic neuritis within 5 months. A positive polymerase chain reaction for C. pneumoniae in the cerebrospinal fluid led to the diagnosis of a CNS infection with C. pneumoniae. After treatment with the antibiotic rifampicin, he experienced no further attacks during the follow-up period of 6 years. These findings suggest the possibility of a C. pneumoniae infection as a contributing factor or even causative event for the development of optic neuritis.
Pohl
Daniela
D
Department of Paediatrics and Paediatric Neurology, Georg August University Göttingen, Germany.
Rostasy
Kevin
K
Gieffers
Jens
J
Maass
Matthias
M
Hanefeld
Folker
F
D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular; D012293:Rifampin