Researchers compare the effectiveness of methylprednisolone at low dose at low dose in the prevention of pulmonary lesions in children affected Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia
Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection is the main cause of pneumonia acquired by the community in children aged five and over. The incidence of severe M. pneumoniae Pneumonia (MPP) increases worldwide, with around 42.6% of cases classified as severe MPP. Primary treatment for MPP is to use macrolide antibiotics.
Since inflammation plays a key role in the severe MPP progression, antibiotics are often combined with glucocorticoids like methylprednisolone. Although the addition of glucocorticoids effectively prevents pulmonary lesions caused by a severe MPP, there is no determination based on clear evidence of the effective effective dose.
To fill this lack of knowledge, the Baoping Xu teachers, Kunling Shen and Xiaoxia Peng of the Beijing children’s hospital, Medical Capital University, National Center for Children’s Health, Beijing, China, have collaborated with researchers from Capital Center for Children’s Health, Capital Medical University, Shengjing Hospital Of China Medical University, Shanxi Children’s Hospital and Baoding Children’s Hospital.
The research group conducted a multicenter randomized clinical trial to compare the low and high dose of methylprednisolone (an anti-inflammatory drug) in combination with azithromycin as therapy for severe MPP in children. This document has been made available online on MM, DD, 2025 and was published in volume X, number X of the review Pediatric investigation.
The first global study of prospective surveillance of Mr. Pneumoniae of 45 sites in 24 countries, has shown a significant increase in serious cases and extrapulmonary demonstrations after three years of Covid-19. «
Baoping Xu, professor, children’s hospital in Beijing
It is therefore essential to determine optimal therapy that improves prognosis and has minimum side effects.
Here, the study group comprising pediatric patients with severe MPP has been divided into two categories of treatment. A group has received methylprednisolone at low doses combined with azithromycin, while the other group has received high -dose methylprednisolone with azithromycin. The main results measured in this study were the impact of unwanted results six months after treatment.
The authors report that patients in high -dose groups and low doses of methylprednisolone have developed pulmonary lesions at six months after treatment. In the long term, pulmonary lesions can cause an alteration of functioning, which could develop in adulthood and increase sensitivity to other chronic pulmonary diseases.
They found that the risk of developing pulmonary lesions was no different between the two groups. It should be noted that the risk of high blood pressure was higher in the high dose group than in the low -dose group.
In addition, the high dose group has shown a minimum reduction in long -term pulmonary lesions and improvements in clinical results were not well pronounced.
The authors suggest that azithromycin combined with low -dose methylprednisolone is just as effective as the high dose in the prevention of pulmonary lesions but has a better safety profile with less undesirable effects.
The results of this study are important, especially because most previous studies were retrospective and limited to the data in a single center. Resistant macrolide reports M. pneumoniae The strains are increasingly worrying.
Professor XU explains the implications, ” The inflammatory response is one of the important mechanisms that cause a severe MPP, which presents additional therapeutic challenges. Studies have reported that the therapeutic efficiency of the macrolide is considerably reduced, which could potentially be contributing to less good results. “” The authors suggest that corticosteroids will play a crucial role at this stage and will be useful in combination with antibiotics in improving the prognosis of patients.
This study also improves understanding of the anti-inflammatory effects of methylprednisolone, while providing evidence regarding its low-dose scheme. In summary, this results evaluation study provides clinical evidence that the lower dose dose regime of glucocorticoids is sufficient, just as effective and a much safer option compared to the high dose diet. These new evidence support clinical decision -making and improving severe MPP management in pediatric patients.
With continuous innovation and research, let us hope that these dosage levels optimized to maximize advantages and transform patient care!
