Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2014 Sep;6(5):428-433. 10.4168/aair.2014.6.5.428.

Serial Changes in Serum Eosinophil-associated Mediators between Atopic and Non-atopic Children after Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia

• Kim JH
• Cho TS
• Moon JH
• Kim CR
• Oh JW

• KMID: 2181079
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2014.6.5.428

Abstract

PURPOSE
Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MP) is associated with the exacerbation, timing, and onset of asthma. The goal of this study was to elucidate the impact of MP on eosinophil-related hyper-reactive amplification in atopic children.
METHODS
We studied 48 patients with MP (26 atopic, 22 non-atopic), between 3 and 12 years of age. Serial changes in blood eosinophil counts, serum interleukin-5 (IL-5), and serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels were measured in atopic and non-atopic children with MP upon admission, recovery, and at 2 months post-recovery. Serum IL-5 and ECP levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays; eosinophil counts were measured using an autoanalyzer.
RESULTS
Serial changes in serum IL-5, ECP, and total eosinophil counts were significantly higher in atopic patients, relative to non-atopic controls (P< or =0.001). Serum IL-5 and ECP levels were significantly higher in atopic patients at all three time points tested, while eosinophil counts were higher in the clinical recovery and follow-up phases, but not in the acute phase. Furthermore, among atopic patients, serum ECP levels were significantly higher in the recovery and follow-up phases than in the acute phase.
CONCLUSIONS
The present study demonstrated significant differences in eosinophil counts, serum IL-5, and serum ECP levels between atopic and non-atopic children with MP at admission, recovery, and 2 months after clinical recovery. These outcomes are suggestive of eosinophil-related hyperreactivity in atopic children, with this status maintained for at least 2 months after MP.

Keyword

Eosinophil; eosinophil cationic protein; interleukin-5; pneumonia; Mycoplasma pneumoniae; atopy

MeSH Terms

Asthma
Child*
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Eosinophil Cationic Protein
Eosinophils
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Interleukin-5
Mycoplasma pneumoniae*
Pneumonia*
Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*
Eosinophil Cationic Protein
Interleukin-5

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Serial changes in serum IL-5 levels, and comparison of serum IL-5 levels during each phase of disease. Serial changes in serum IL-5 levels were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (P<0.001). Group 1 IL-5 levels were consistently higher than those of group 2 at each of the three time points tested (P<0.05). *P<0.05. IL, interleukin.

• 

  Fig. 2 Serial changes in peripheral blood eosinophil counts, and comparison of eosinophil counts during each phase of disease. The serial change in eosinophil counts was higher in group 1 than in group 2 (P=0.001). *P<0.05.

• 

  Fig. 3 Serial changes in serum ECP levels, and comparison of serum ECP levels during each phase of disease. The serial change in serum ECP level in group 1 was higher than in group 2 (P<0.001). Within group 1, ECP levels were higher at both recovery and 2 months post-recover than during the acute phase of infection (P<0.05). *P<0.05. ECP, eosinophil cationic protein.

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