Leukopheresis therapy for severe infantile pertussis with myocardial and pulmonary failure.
OBJECTIVE
To describe an infant with severe pertussis successfully treated with leukopheresis.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Pediatric intensive care unit of a children's hospital.


METHODS
Five-wk-old female with pertussis complicated by cardiorespiratory failure.


METHODS
Single leukopheresis treatment.


RESULTS
Normalization of the white blood cell count and marked cardiorespiratory improvement after treatment; patient survived.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the temporal association between treatment and improvement, we hypothesize that the markedly elevated white blood cell count has a major role in the cardiopulmonary compromise.
Grzeszczak
Marek J
MJ
Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. marek.j.grzeszczak@vanderbilt.edu
Churchwell
Kevin B
KB
Edwards
Kathryn M
KM
Pietsch
John
J
D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000150:complications*; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007937:Leukapheresis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000150:complications*; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*