# Improvement of Mycoplasma pneumoniae–Associated Acute Cerebellar Ataxia and Possible Encephalopathy After Intravenous Immunoglobulin

## TL;DR

Two children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae-related neurological issues improved after receiving intravenous immunoglobulin, suggesting potential benefits of immunomodulatory treatment.

## Contribution

Demonstrates rapid improvement in M. pneumoniae-associated cerebellar ataxia and encephalopathy following IVIG treatment in two pediatric cases.

## Key findings

- Two children with M. pneumoniae-related neurological symptoms improved rapidly after IVIG treatment.
- No long-term sequelae were observed in the cases following immunomodulatory therapy.
- IVIG may reduce severity and duration of M. pneumoniae-induced neurological conditions.

## Abstract

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) can cause acute postinfectious cerebellar ataxia and encephalitis/encephalopathy. Although ataxia can be self‐limited, prolonged duration of symptoms and long‐term neurological sequelae that persist for months or more are associated with both conditions. Multiple mechanisms have been suggested in the pathogenesis, but it seems that immune‐mediated damage plays a pivotal role. In this report, two children with community‐acquired pneumonia developed acute cerebellar ataxia (one with possible encephalopathy) associated with serologically confirmed M. pneumoniae, after having received antibiotics effective against M. pneumoniae. They improved rapidly after the administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), without any sequelae. The exact role of immunomodulatory treatment such as IVIG in decreasing the severity and duration of M. pneumoniae acute cerebellar ataxia and encephalitis/encephalopathy and the criteria for administration need to be further studied.