title: Mycoplasma pneumonia infection and asthma: A clinical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the correlation between mycoplasma pneumonia infection and the severity of asthma as well as asthma control, to help physicians in respiratory department better make treatment strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Since January 2012 to May 2014, we consecutively recruited 149 out-patients diagnosed with asthma in acute or convalescent phase from the department of respiratory medicine of our hospital. The pulmonary function tests, sputum induction examination, measurement of IgM, IgG and IgE in serum, evaluation of asthma control were carried out for all the included patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 78 cases with asthma in acute phase, mycoplasma pneumonia infection was confirmed in 38 cases (48.71%), and in 71 cases in stable state, mycoplasma pneumonia infection was confirmed in 22 cases (30.98%). There was significant difference in the rate of mycoplasma pneumonia infection between the two groups (p<0.05). The FEV1% Pred and ACT scores were significantly lower in mycoplasma pneumonia infection cases than those in no mycoplasma pneumonia infection cases (p<0.05), while the eosinophil count and IgE in serum were significantly higher in mycoplasma pneumonia infection cases (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mycoplasma pneumonia infection may play more important role in the occurrence of acute asthma, and it can lead to decreased pulmonary function, difficulty in controlling asthma and more severe airway inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Shuncui Gao, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Fourth People's Hospital of Jinan City Shandong Province, 250031, China.
authors.forename: Shuncui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Lingcheng Wang, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Fourth People's Hospital of Jinan City Shandong Province, 250031, China.
authors.forename: Lingcheng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Wei Zhu, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Fourth People's Hospital of Jinan City Shandong Province, 250031, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Jie Jiang, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Fourth People's Hospital of Jinan City Shandong Province, 250031, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
keywords: Asthma; IgE in serum; Mycoplasma pneumonia infection; Pulmonary function tests; Sputum induction examination