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Recurrent optic neuritis associated with Chlamydia pneumoniae infection of the central nervous system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2006

Daniela Pohl ,
Kevin Rostasy ,
Jens Gieffers ,
Matthias Maass  and
Folker Hanefeld
Daniela Pohl
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics and Paediatric Neurology, Georg August University Göttingen, Germany.
Kevin Rostasy
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics and Paediatric Neurology, Georg August University Göttingen, Germany.
Jens Gieffers
Affiliation:
Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Lübeck, Germany.
Matthias Maass
Affiliation:
Institute of Medical Microbiology, Hygiene and Infectious Diseases, Salzburg University Hospital, Austria.
Folker Hanefeld
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics and Paediatric Neurology, Georg August University Göttingen, Germany.
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Abstract

It has been suggested that Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) is involved in the pathogenesis of diverse diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), including multiple sclerosis. We report the case of a 12-year-old male with isolated recurrent optic neuritis and an associated CNS infection with C. pneumoniae. The patient presented with three attacks of optic neuritis within 5 months. A positive polymerase chain reaction for C. pneumoniae in the cerebrospinal fluid led to the diagnosis of a CNS infection with C. pneumoniae. After treatment with the antibiotic rifampicin, he experienced no further attacks during the follow-up period of 6 years. These findings suggest the possibility of a C. pneumoniae infection as a contributing factor or even causative event for the development of optic neuritis.

Type
Case Report
Information
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology , Volume 48 , Issue 9 , September 2006 , pp. 770 - 772
Copyright
2006 Mac Keith Press

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