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Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection
Author(s) -
YAMAMOTO KATSUYA,
TAKAYANAGI MASARU,
YOSHIHARA YASUSHI,
MURATA YUJI,
KATO SEIICHI,
OTAKE MASATOSHI,
NAKAGAWA HIROSHI
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.1996.tb03434.x
Subject(s) - medicine , acute disseminated encephalomyelitis , mycoplasma pneumoniae , pathology , magnetic resonance imaging , white matter , encephalomyelitis , lesion , multiple sclerosis , hyperintensity , pathological , basal ganglia , etiology , immunology , central nervous system , radiology , disease , pneumonia
An 8 year old girl with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is described. Elevated serum antibody titers suggested recent Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. T2‐weighted image of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disclosed multiple lesions of high signal intensity in bilateral basal ganglia and thalami as well as in the white matter. Postcontrast T1‐weighted image revealed an enhanced lesion in the deep white matter. She showed rapid clinical improvement in response to corticosteroid therapy. The lesions had disappeared completely on MRI performed 10 weeks after the onset. ADEM is believed to be a demyelinating disorder of probable autoimmune etiology. MRI findings in this case may support the hypothesis that the primary pathological event is vascular injury and demyelination occurs only as a secondary phenomenon.