title: Lung function and bronchial responsiveness after Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in early childhood.
abstract: Mycoplasma (M.) pneumoniae has been associated with exacerbation of symptoms in asthmatic school children and adults; and an etiological role in asthma has been suggested. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether infection with M. pneumoniae in early childhood has a long-term influence on lung function and bronchial responsiveness. In a retrospective, clinical cohort-study children younger than 5 years-of-age when PCR-tested for M. pneumoniae were enrolled. Sixty-five children with clinical symptoms suggesting infection with M. pneumoniae during an epidemic season completed a clinical follow-up examination including lung function testing (28 PCR-positive and 37 PCR-negative). In addition to the PCR-test for M. pneumoniae all respiratory tract specimens were additionally tested for other atypical bacteria and for viruses by PCR. Lung function was measured as specific airway resistance by whole-body plethysmography and bronchial hyperresponsiveness was assessed by cold, dry air hyperventilation. Neither baseline lung function nor bronchial response to cold dry air hyperventilation differed between M. pneumoniae-positive and -negative children: mean baseline lung function were 1.17 versus 1.21 (kPa sec), P = 0.45; and mean change in specific resistance was 13% versus 9%, P = 0.42. In conclusion, M. pneumoniae infection in early childhood was not associated with long-term effects on lung function and bronchial hyperresponsiveness 2 years after infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark. bbk@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Birgitte B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Kjaer
authors.forename: Jørgen S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Kim G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fomsgaard
authors.forename: Blenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Böttiger
authors.forename: Birthe
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dohn
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bisgaard
mesh_terms: D000403:Airway Resistance; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010993:Plethysmography, Whole Body; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies