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Neuropediatrics 2019; 50(01): 054-056
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1676054
Short Communication
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Mycoplasma Pneumoniae and Antibodies against Galactocerebroside in a 9-Year-Old Boy with Encephalitis

Joost Smolders
1   Department of Pediatric Neurology, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
,
Bart C. Jacobs
2   Departments of Neurology and Immunology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
,
Anne P. Tio-Gillen
2   Departments of Neurology and Immunology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
,
Frouke Nijhuis
3   Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
,
Aad Verrips
1   Department of Pediatric Neurology, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

25 July 2018

15 October 2018

Publication Date:
26 November 2018 (online)

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Abstract

We report the case of a 9 year-old boy, presenting with an acute encephalitis with cerebrospinal fluid pleiocytosis. MRI showed T2/FLAIR (fluid attenuated inversion recovery) hyperintense signals of basal ganglia and cortex, EEG (electro encephalogram) showed diffuse slowing with epileptic discharges. A repetitively elevated IgM/IgG serologic response against Mycoplasma pneumoniae was observed with polymerase chain reaction in serum and cerebrospinal fluid remaining negative. No other pathogen or antigen could be identified. High IgG and IgM levels against the glycolipid galactocerebroside were detected in serum but not in CSF. After treatment with corticosteroids, the patient fully recovered. Brain MRI and EEG investigation returned completely normal. Besides a primary infection of the central nervous system, M. pneumoniae is associated with a parainfectious encephalitis in children which may be mediated by antibodies to galactocerebroside.

Keywords

encephalitis - mycoplasma pneumoniae - galactocerebroside

Supplementary Material

 

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