Mycoplasma pneumonia Infection: A Possible Trigger for Immune Thrombocytopenia

Abstract

Mycoplasma pneumonia (M. pneumonia) is usually not considered among the several pathogens that induce immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). We report a child with a clinical diagnosis of severe ITP that was associated with M. pneumonia pneumonia, and review the few cases described in the English literature. We suggest that thrombocytopenia associated with M. pneumonia infection may constitute a subset of ITP, although unlike ITP it occurs concomitantly with the infection and tends to be more severe than ''classic'' ITP. We recommend that prompt specific antibiotic and immune modulating treatment should be initiated in appropriate clinical settings.

Thrombocytopenia associated with Mycoplasma pneumonia during pregnancy: Case presentation and approach for differential diagnosis

“…Unlike ITP, however, it occurs concomitantly with the infection and tends to be more severe than classic ITP. Moreover, specific anti‐platelet antibodies are not always present, whereas such antibodies are found in many patients with ITP . The simultaneous development of acute hepatitis, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia due to M .…”

“…Only eight cases of severe thrombocytopenia associated with Mycoplasma pneumonia have been described between 1966 and 2011, most of which occurred in children. 1 To our knowledge, there have been no reports of thrombocytopenia induced by M. pneumoniae during pregnancy. The causes of thrombocytopenia during pregnancy may represent specific complications of pregnancy or may not be associated with pregnancy at all, although some may indeed occur with increased frequency during pregnancy.…”

“…Thrombocytopenia associated with Mycoplasma pneumonia, an infection caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae , is rare and usually has a severe course. Only eight cases of severe thrombocytopenia associated with Mycoplasma pneumonia have been described between 1966 and 2011, most of which occurred in children . To our knowledge, there have been no reports of thrombocytopenia induced by M .…”

Usefulness of targeting lymphocyte Kv1.3-channels in the treatment of respiratory diseases

“…Therefore, the symptoms caused by the organisms are believed to be immune-mediated by activated T lymphocytes, rather than induced directly by the cellular toxicity of the organisms [25,47,48]. Actually, infection with M. pneumonia is often associated with the subsequent onset of immune-mediated systemic disorders, such as hemolytic anemia, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, thrombocytopenic purpura, and organizing pneumonia [25,[49][50][51], for which the use of corticosteroids or immunosuppressive reagents is highly recommended.…”

“…As was the case with clarithromycin [107], the plasma concentrations of these drugs in humans are usually much lower [140][141][142][143], compared to their IC 50 values, which are demonstrated to effectively elicit their pharmacological properties on voltage-dependent K ? -channel CCBs calcium channel blockers, NSAIDs nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs…”