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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Pediatr.
Sec. Pediatric Pulmonology
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fped.2025.1459455

Comparison of Thromboelastographic Profiles and Clinical Characteristics in Children with Severe Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia

Provisionally accepted
Yong-Tao Li Yong-Tao Li 1Yu-Mei Ma Yu-Mei Ma 1Fu-Li Dai Fu-Li Dai 1Zhen Peng Zhen Peng 1Ya-Ping Dai Ya-Ping Dai 1Ke Zhi Ke Zhi 1Hai-Hong Feng Hai-Hong Feng 1Shu-Jun Li Shu-Jun Li 2*
  • 1 Luoyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Luoyang, Henan Province, China
  • 2 The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: This study aimed to compare Thromboelastographic (TEG) profiles and clinical characteristics between severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) pneumonia patients with normal and abnormal TEG parameters. Methods: The clinical data of 133 children with severe MP pneumonia were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into normal (n=76) and abnormal (n=57) TEG groups. Demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, imaging features, bronchoscopy results, treatment, complications, and outcomes were compared between groups. Results: The abnormal TEG group (42.9%) had longer fever duration (median: 8.5 vs. 7.0 days, P<0.001) and hospital stay (median: 11.5 vs. 10.0 days, P=0.003). They also showed higher levels of C-reactive protein (median: 30.2 vs. 20.1 mg/L, P<0.001), lactate dehydrogenase (median: 334.5 vs. 276.0 U/L, P=0.001), and D-dimer (median: 1.2 vs. 0.5 μg/mL, P<0.001). HRCT revealed more lobar consolidation or multilobar involvement (36.8% vs. 18.4%, P=0.016), and bronchoscopy showed more mucous plug obstruction (28.1% vs. 10.5%, P=0.008) in the abnormal TEG group. TEG parameters indicated a hypercoagulable state with shorter R time (P<0.001), shorter K time (P<0.001), and higher MA (P=0.003). The abnormal TEG group had higher incidences of coagulopathy (P<0.001), cardiac involvement (elevated cardiac enzymes: 36.8% vs. 17.1%, P=0.009; pericardial effusion: 10.5% vs. 1.3%, P=0.017), and plastic bronchitis (P=0.006). They also required longer azithromycin courses (median: 15 vs. 14 days, P=0.026). Conclusion: Children with severe MP pneumonia and abnormal TEG profiles have more severe clinical manifestations, higher inflammatory markers, more extensive lung involvement, and a higher incidence of complications. TEG may help identify high-risk patients and guide management in severe MP pneumonia.

    Keywords: Thromboelastographic Profiles, Clinical Characteristics, Children, Severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

    Received: 04 Jul 2024; Accepted: 08 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Li, Ma, Dai, Peng, Dai, Zhi, Feng and Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Shu-Jun Li, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.