Correlation between Cytokine and Chemokine levels and Clinical Severity in Children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between cytokine and chemokine levels and the clinical severity of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical and laboratory parameters were performed. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, interferon-${\gamma}$-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), macrophage inflammatory $protein-1{\beta}$, and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ were measured. The severity of patients' clinical course and radiologic findings were also assessed. Results: Seventy-two patients (35 males and 37 females) with a median age of 3.9 years (range, 1-16 years) were enrolled. Patients with lobar pneumonia (n=29) had significantly higher C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and IL-18 values than those with broncho-interstitial pneumonia (n=43). However, the cytokine and chemokine values did not differ between the group that was treated with corticosteroids (n=31) and the one that was not (n=41). The CRP, ESR, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), IL-18, and IP-10 values showed positive correlations with fever duration prior to admission. The CRP and ESR values were positively correlated with IL-18, and LDH, with IP-10 levels. Conclusions: CRP, ESR, LDH, IL-18, and IP-10 values were associated with the severity of the disease, manifesting lobar pneumonia or prolonged fever duration prior to admission.

목적: 소아 마이코플라즈마 폐렴의 임상 중증도와 cytokine, chemokine의 상관 관계를 살펴보았다. 방법: 대상 환아의 임상소견과 검사소견을 후향적으로 조사하였고, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, inducible protein (IP)-10, macrophage inflammatory protein $(MIP)-1{\beta}$와 tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$를 비교 분석하였다. 결과: 총 72명이 포함되었고, 흉부 사진에서 대엽성 병변을 보이는 경우(29명)에서 기관지-미만성 병변을 보이는 경우(43명)보다 erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP)와 IL-18 수치가 의미 있게 높았다. 하지만, 스테로이드 사용 여부에 따른 차이는 보이지 않았다. CRP, ESR, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), IL-18 그리고 IP-10 수치는 입원 전 발열 기간과 양의 상관관계를 보였다. 또한 ESR과 CRP 수치는 IL-18과, LDH는 IP-10과 양의 상관관계를 보였다. 결론: CRP, ESR, IL-18 그리고 IP-10 수치는 대엽성 폐렴이나 긴 발열 기간과 같은 질병의 중증도와 연관성을 가진다.