Research Article: Factors associated with pulmonary embolism in children with refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia and elevated D-dimer
Abstract:
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a serious complication of refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP), and its diagnosis is often delayed because of nonspecific clinical presentations. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with PE in children with RMPP and elevated D-dimer.
Children diagnosed with RMPP and suspected PE were enrolled from five hospitals in northern China between November 2023 and March 2024. Blood samples were collected for inflammatory and immunological assessments. Patients were stratified into PE and non-PE groups according to computed tomographic pulmonary angiography findings. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with PE.
Overall, 109 children with RMPP were included, and 49 (45.0%) had PE. Clinical features did not differ significantly between the PE and non-PE groups ( P >?0.05). Compared with the non-PE group, children with PE had higher white blood cell and neutrophil counts and higher admission and peak D-dimer levels, whereas admission CRP, LDH, ferritin, and IL-6 levels were comparable between groups. Simultaneous positivity for lupus anticoagulant and antinuclear antibodies ( P =?0.006) and left lower lobe consolidation ( P =?0.002) were also more frequent in the PE group. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, neutrophil count (OR, 1.221; 95% CI, 1.031–1.446), log 2 (admission D-dimer/500 ?g/L) (OR, 2.664; 95% CI, 1.485–4.778), simultaneous positivity for lupus anticoagulant and antinuclear antibodies (OR, 3.185; 95% CI, 1.234–8.223), and left lower lobe consolidation (OR, 5.016; 95% CI, 1.825–13.790) were independently associated with PE.
Among children with RMPP, elevated D-dimer levels, and clinical suspicion of PE who underwent CTPA, higher neutrophil counts, greater D-dimer elevation, simultaneous positivity for lupus anticoagulant and antinuclear antibodies, and left lower lobe consolidation were independently associated with PE.
Introduction:
Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is a prevalent etiological agent of community-acquired pneumonia in children, especially those aged ?5 years ( 1 , 2 ). Although M. pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is usually a self-limiting condition, certain cases exhibit persistent fever and clinical deterioration despite the administration of appropriate antibiotic therapy, a condition referred to as refractory MPP (RMPP) ( 3 , 4 ). The predominant mechanism underlying RMPP is believed to be an excessive inflammatory response,…
Read more