title: Transverse myelitis and acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy due to Legionella pneumophila: a case report.
abstract: Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rapidly progressive symmetrical muscle weakness associated with acute inflammatory disease. Transverse myelitis (TM) is the inflammation of the spinal cord characterized by rapidly evolving muscle weakness in the lower extremities, defects in sensory level and sphincter dysfunction. Guillain-Barré syndrome, and TM association occurs very rarely in childhood. A 7-year-old girl presented with complaints of neck pain, spout-style vomiting, cough, shortness of breath, and acute paraparesis with sensory and sphincter disturbance. The patient was intubated because of increased respiratory distress. A positive direct fluorescein antigen test in bronchoalveolar lavage confirmed Legionella pneumophila infection. Imaging and neurophysiologic studies were diagnostic for TM with acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy. She was treated with a combination of high-dose methylprednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulins, and we observed incomplete recovery. The presented case is the first child with concomitant TM and acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy related to L. pneumophila infection.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Canpolat
authors: Sefer
authors: S
authors: Kumandas
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Yikilmaz
authors: Hakan
authors: H
authors: Gumus
authors: Emel
authors: E
authors: Koseoglu
authors: Hatice Gamze
authors: HG
authors: Poyrazoğlu
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Kose
authors: Huseyin
authors: H
authors: Per
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: Legionella pneumophila; acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy; child; immune modulation; transverse myelitis