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[Opsoclonus secondary to encephalopolyradiculoneuritis due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae]

C Escorial Moya1, J Rodríguez Baño, M Victoria Borobio

  • 1Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Spain. cecorial@supercable.es

Neurologia (Barcelona, Spain)
|February 27, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection can cause opsoclonus, a rare chaotic eye movement disorder, and polyradiculoneuritis. This case highlights the need to consider M. pneumoniae in neurological diagnoses.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • Opsoclonus is a rare neurological disorder characterized by chaotic eye movements, typically linked to parainfectious or paraneoplastic conditions.
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is not commonly associated with opsoclonus.

Observation:

  • A 23-year-old male presented with fever, myalgia, vomiting, respiratory failure, opsoclonus, and symmetric flaccid tetraparesis with lower limb muscle atrophy.
  • Diagnostic workup revealed positive serology and seroreversion for Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Findings:

  • This case demonstrates a potential link between Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and the development of opsoclonus.
  • The patient's presentation suggests M. pneumoniae can cause a predominantly neurological disease.

Implications:

  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae should be considered in the differential diagnosis of opsoclonus.
  • This finding expands the spectrum of neurological manifestations associated with M. pneumoniae infections, including polyradiculoneuritis.

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