Clinical significance of Mycoplasma pneumoniae specific IgM titer in children hospitalized with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The present study aimed to identify the clinical significance of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP)-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) titer, in addition to a diagnosis of MP infection, in children with MP pneumonia.

METHODS:

This study was performed in 155 children hospitalized with MP pneumonia. The clinical features and laboratory and radiographic findings on admission in children with positive or negative MP-specific IgM titers were retrospectively reviewed from the electronic medical records.

RESULTS:

The mean age of the included children was 6.0 years, and 118 (76.1%) of the children were positive for MP-specific IgM. A longer duration between symptom onset and admission (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24-1.75), longer duration of symptoms during the illness (aOR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02-1.30), and development of extra-pulmonary manifestations (aOR 9.16, 95% CI 1.96-42.81) were significantly associated with a positive MP-specific IgM titer. Serum lactate dehydrogenase levels (aOR 1.00, 95% CI 1.00-1.01) and pneumonic infiltration involving > 50% of the total lung volume on chest radiography (aOR 4.68, 95% CI 1.12-19.55) were associated with positive MP-specific IgM in children with MP pneumonia. A poor response to stepwise treatment for MP pneumonia was more common in children with a positive MP-specific IgM titer than those with a negative MP-specific IgM titer on admission.

CONCLUSIONS:

A positive MP-specific IgM titer at diagnosis of MP pneumonia may partially suggest an exaggerated immune response with a higher disease burden compared to children with MP pneumonia with a negative MP-specific IgM titer.

• Authors: Soojeong Choo, Seo-Hee Kim, Eun Lee
• Journal: BMC infectious diseases (BMC Infect Dis) Vol. 22 Issue 1 Pg. 470 (May 16 2022) ISSN: 1471-2334 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 35578177 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2022. The Author(s).

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Bacterial
• Immunoglobulin M

Topics

• Antibodies, Bacterial
• Child
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin M
• Mycoplasma pneumoniae
• Pneumonia, Mycoplasma (complications, diagnosis)
• Retrospective Studies