Acute transverse myelitis associated with Mycoplasma pneumonia

Mycoplasma pneumonia is one of the significant causes of upper and lower respiratory tract infections and can cause the damage to the nervous system, leading to a range of neurological complications. These may include conditions such as encephalitis, meningitis, Guillan — Barre syndrome, transverse myelitis and cerebillitis. The article describes a case of transverse myelitis in 39-year-old patient with infection caused by Mycoplasma pneumonia that developed on the 7th day of hospitalization and 14th day of illness. The patient was unable to empty the bladder independently and had weakness of lower extremities without sensory changes. Computed tomography of the chest revealed multiple foci of pulmonary tissue infiltration in the right and left lungs. Imunoglobulins M to M. pneumoniae were detected in the blood. The diagnosis was acute community-acquired pneumonia caused by M. pneumoniae, complicated by transvers myelitis with pelvic disorders and lower paraparesis. The cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed mild pleocytosis of 0.04 x 109/l with 70% lymphocytes. As a result of the therapy, lower paraparesis was completely resolved and independent urination was restored. The patient was discharged on the 22nd day of the disease. This case shows that physicians must be aware about the possibility of transverse myelitis and other forms of nervous system damages in patients with infection caused by M. pneumoniae.