Comparison of curative effects of two different doses of glucocorticoid in children with RMPP

Objective To investigate the efficacy and adverse reactions of two different doses of glucocorticoid in the treatment of refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP).

Methods The clinical data of 97 RMPP children treated with systemic glucocorticoid were retrospectively analyzed.The children were divided into the low-dose group (treatment with methylprednisolone ≤1 mg·kg^-1·d^-1, or its equivalent) and conventional dose group (treatment with methylprednisolone 1-2 mg·kg^-1·d^-1, or its equivalent).The clinical course, laboratory parameters, treatment effects and adverse reactions between two groups were compared.

Results The antipyretic time and hospitalization time in conventional dose group were significantly less than those in low-dose group (P < 0.01).After treatment, the levels of CRP, PCT and LDH in conventional dose group were lower than those in low-dose group (P < 0.05).There was no statistical significance in the curative effects between two groups (P>0.05).The incidence rate of adverse reactions in low-dose group were lower than those in conventional dose group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Although the conventional dose of glucocorticoid can shorten the antipyretic time and hospitalization of children with RMPP, there is no difference in the efficacy between two doses, and the incidence rate of adverse reactions in the low-dose group is lower.