title: Persistent B-cell lymphopenia, multiorgan disease, and erythema multiforme caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.
abstract: We report a 6-year-old girl in whom Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection presenting with erythema multiforme, multiorgan, and hematologic dysfunctions induced a long-standing, marked B-cell lymphopenia. An increase of CD8+ lymphocytes was also detected. We suggest that a selective cytotoxic T lymphocyte-dependent B cell lysis and the expansion of super-antigen activated CD8+ T cells may account for the multiorgan and hematologic disturbances triggered by M. pneumoniae.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biomedicina dell'Età Evolutiva, Clinica Pediatria, University of Bari, Policlinico, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Baldassarre
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martire
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foti
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cassano
authors.forename: Rosalba
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buquicchio
authors.forename: Giovanni Carlo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Del Vecchio
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Mattia
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004892:Erythema Multiforme / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000082:Acetaminophen; D017291:Clarithromycin; D011241:Prednisone