Efficacy of Methylprednisolone plus Azithromycin in the Treatment of RMPP and Its Effect on the Changes of T Lymphocyte Subsets

OBJECTIVE: To explore and analyze the efficacy of methylprednisolone combined with azithromycin in the treatment of refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP) and its effect on the changes of T lymphocyte subsets. METHODS: A total of 120 children with RMPP admitted to our hospital from September 2016 to September 2020 were randomized at a ratio of 1 : 1 into the control group (conventional treatment) and the observation group (methylprednisolone plus conventional treatment). Outcome measures included clinical efficacy, symptoms mitigation, changes in inflammatory factors, T lymphocyte subsets, and adverse reactions. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the total clinical effective rate of the observation group was higher (P < 0.05). The disappearance time of cough, wheezing, pulmonary rales, and X-ray lung shadows in the observation group was significantly shorter than that in the control group after treatment (P < 0.05). The serum C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin (IL)-8 levels of the observation group after treatment were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group had a higher CD4+ value, lower CD8+ value, and higher CD4+/CD8+ value after treatment (all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in adverse reactions between the two groups during treatment (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Methylprednisolone plus azithromycin might serve as an alternative in the treatment of RMPP. It facilitates the mitigation of clinical symptoms and signs and regulates the level of inflammatory factors and cellular immune dysfunction, with good effectiveness and a high safety profile.