Neuroinvasive Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection without intrathecal antibody response

Abstract

The pathogenesis of extrapulmonary Mycoplasma pneumoniae-associated neurologic disease is unclear. We present a case of acute meningoencephalitis in a 15-year-old girl with central nervous system invasion of the bacterium but without intrathecal antibody synthesis. Our observations suggest that in this setting M. pneumoniae infection can be self-limiting and mild despite invasion of the central nervous system.