mycoplasma-like structures in granulomatous angiitis of the CNS

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PMID 577394

1977

" Altho termporal arteritis is histolog. indisting. from granulomatous

angiitis, there are marked differences between the two. Temporal

arteritis [...] is freq assoc w polymyalgia rheumatica [...] and

rarely assoc with multifocal neurological deficits with rapid

progression towards death [weeks], as is the usual course of

granulomatous angiitis. "

(((Incidentally, look up polymyalgia rheumatica, whose incidence rises

progressively with age after age 60 or something like that, as is true

of giant cell arteritis. The sx/course of both are very familiar.)))

Regarding TEM on two patients who died of CNS granulumatous angiitis:

" we encoutnered particles that resembled microorganisms within some of

the giant cells as well as extracellularly in the vicinity of

granuomatius lesions. These structures appeared to be consistent w

Mycoplasma which are charecterised as unit [ie single-] membrane-bound

organisms containing ribosome-like granules and intracytoplasmic

strands of DNA. They are exceedingly pleomorphic, making precise

morphological definition impossible. "

" Depending on the method of handling [huh?], they may assume a variety

of shapes: spheroidal, filamentous, or more irreg distorted forms. "