title: Mycoplasma pneumoniae encephalopathy: recovery after intravenous immunoglobulin.
abstract: In a case of Mycoplasma pneumoniae encephalopathy in a 7-year-old girl, the microorganism was identified by serologic and pharyngeal-swab polymerase chain reaction methods. Failure to detect or isolate the pathogen in the cerebrospinal fluid and the significant rapid clinical recovery of the patient after intravenous immunoglobulin administration suggest an immune-mediated mechanism. In critically ill patients with M. pneumoniae encephalopathy, prompt intravenous immunoglobulin treatment may be beneficial and can be considered as a primary or alternative therapeutic approach, especially when use of corticosteroids is insecure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Athens Medical Center Hospital, Athens, Greece. attilakos@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Achilleas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Attilakos
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palaiologou
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lagona
authors.forename: Aikaterini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Voutsioti
authors.forename: Argirios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dinopoulos
mesh_terms: D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous