title: Clinical features of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in the 2010 epidemic season: report of two cases with unusual presentations.
abstract: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) is one of the main pathogens causing community-acquired pneumonia, particularly in young individuals. Host immune response appears to play an important role in prolonged symptoms, as well as in the recent increasing prevalence of drug-resistant Mp isolated from patients. Case 1 had a prolonged clinical course caused by drug-resistant Mp and received steroid therapy despite Mp susceptibility to some antimicrobial agents. Serum cytokine profiles revealed elevation of interleukin-6/-10 and interferon-γ in acute phase. Case 2 had mycoplasmal myocarditis without any respiratory symptoms, which resolved spontaneously without the administration of any antimicrobial agent. These observations suggest that host immune response probably contributes to the etiology of Mp-associated complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hiratsuka Kyosai Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan; Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Infection Control Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: molto-take@muf.biglobe.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Tomoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takei
authors.forename: Miyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morozumi
authors.forename: Hirohiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.forename: Hisayo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Kimiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ubukata
authors.forename: Isshi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kadota
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyamae
authors.forename: Shumpei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yokota
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000209:etiology; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
keywords: Mycoplasma pneumoniae; cytokine; drug resistance; myocarditis; steroid