Combined diagnostic potential of multi-slice spiral CT and serum CRP levels in children with Mycoplasma pneumonia after azithromycin treatment

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the combined diagnostic value of multi-slice spiral computerized tomography (MSCT) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in children with mycoplasma pneumonia (MPP) after azithromycin treatment.Methods: Clinical data for 60 children with MPP who were treated in The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, Chenzhou from February 2019 to February 2020, were retrospectively analyzed. All children were treated with azithromycin. Serum CRP levels were measured using immunoturbidimetric endpoint assay, while MSCT examination was done before and after treatment. This was a self-control clinical study in which the 60 patients served as their own controls. Thus, results obtained before treatment (control group, CG) were compared with those obtained after treatment (study group, EG). Within the same period, 60 healthy subjects were selected as the healthy group (HG), and were subjected to MSCT examination and serum CRP assay. The diagnostic results of CT were analyzed, and the responsiveness, selectivity, and positive and negative predictive values of the combination of MSCT and serum CRP levels were calculated.Results: Pre-treatment serum CRP level was higher in CG than in EG and HG, and CRP level was higher in EG than in HG (p < 0.001). The MSCT imaging features of EG were significantly different from those of CG (p < 0.05). The probabilities of bronchial wall thickening, hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy and pleural effusion were significantly higher in CG than in EG (p < 0.05). The responsiveness, selectivity, and positive and negative predictive values of combination of MSCT and serum CRP in MPP children after azithromycin treatment were 70.0, 66.7, 67.7 and 69.0 %, respectively.Conclusion: The combination of MSCT examination and serum CRP levels resulted in high diagnostic efficiency, and it may be useful for monitoring MPP in children after azithromycin treatment. Therefore, the combined procedure may reduce the burden on families of MPP children by enhancing efficiency of diagnosis of the disease.