Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infection Associated with Affection of the Central Nervous System

Abstract

A total of 371 patients with acute, febrile, non-bacterial affection of the CNS hospitalized between Nov. 1, 1971 and June 1, 1976 were examined for M. pneumoniae infection. Of the patients, 19 showed evidence of a current M. pneumoniae infection, 32 of a previous infection and 320 no evidence. In patients with a current infection due to M. pneumoniae, this agent might be involved in the pathogenesis of the neurological syndromes. Compared to cases without the infection, these cases and those with a previous M. pneumoniae infection showed an increased frequency of pathological values, found by various laboratory and instrumental parameters, and a slightly higher frequency of neurological sequelae. Respiratory illness was present in only 11 of the 19 patients infected with M. pneumoniae, a classical respiratory tract pathogen. The overall incidence of current M. pneumoniae infections among patients with neurological syndromes was 5%, with a maximum of 10% during the 1972 epidemic. This is a much higher figure than expected from a mere coincidence of the 2 conditions.