Central Nervous System Complications of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infection

Seven cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection complicated by symptoms of central nervous system disorder are reported. Three patients had aseptic meningitis, 1 had meningoencephalitis and the remaining 3 patients developed acute psychosis. All patients also had acute respiratory illness. M. pneumoniae was isolated from throat specimens in all 7 cases. Isolation attempts from cerebrospinal fluid of 3 cases were unsuccessful. In the 6 cases from which multiple serum samples were available either a 4-fold change or high titers of M. pneumoniae antibodies were demonstrated. Six patients recovered completely, whereas the seventh patient, a 45-year-old man with pneumonia and acute psychosis, died 17 days after onset of respiratory illness. Autopsy showed extensive thrombosis of the pulmonary arteries and bilateral pulmonary infarctions.