Mycoplasma pneumoniae associated stroke in a 3-year-old girl

Gun-Ha Kim1, Won Hee Seo, Bo-Kyung Je

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Insights

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection can trigger a temporary blood clotting disorder in children, leading to acute ischemic stroke. This prothrombotic state, including protein S deficiency, resolved within a month.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Infectious diseases are a known precursor to pediatric acute ischemic stroke.
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common respiratory pathogen in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a case of acute ischemic stroke in a child secondary to Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.
  • To investigate the potential prothrombotic mechanisms involved.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of a 3-year-old girl.
  • Clinical evaluation, laboratory tests for coagulation status, and antibody titers.
  • Follow-up assessment at 1 month.

Main Results:

  • The patient presented with acute ischemic stroke associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae respiratory infection.
  • Developed acquired protein S deficiency, elevated fibrinogen, fibrinogen degradation products, and antinuclear antibodies.
  • All prothrombotic markers normalized at the 1-month follow-up.

Conclusions:

  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection can induce a transient prothrombotic state in children.
  • This transient hypercoagulable condition may lead to thrombus formation and ischemic stroke.
  • Prompt diagnosis and management of infection are crucial.

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