The changes and clinic significance of immune function,serum procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in children with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia

Objective To investigate the changes of immune function, serum procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in children with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP), and to provide clinical evidence for immunotherapy in children with MPP. Methods A total of 126 children with MPP during their hospitalization were enrolled into lobar pneumonia group (n=42) and bronchopneumonia group (n=84), and 28 healthy children were enrolled into normal control group. The immunoglobulin (Ig), CD4+ T, CD8+ T, PCT and CRP of all children were determined. Results The levels of IgG, IgM and IgE of children in lobar pneumonia group and bronchopneumonia group were significantly higher than that of the normal control group (P 0.05). The levels of IgG in lobar pneumonia group were significantly higher than that of bronchopneumonia group (P 0.05). The ratios of CD4+ T and CD4+ T/CD8+ T in lobar pneumonia group and bronchopneumonia group were significantly lower than that of the normal control group (P<0.05). The levels of PCT and CRP in lobar pneumonia group and bronchopneumonia group were significantly higher than that of the normal control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Humoral immunity and cellular immune dysfunction plays an important role in pathogenesis of MPP. They are important for PCT and CRP in evaluating clinical condition and immunotherapy. Key words: Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia; Immune function; Serum procalcitonin; C-reactive protein