Effect of montelukast combined with methylprednisolone for the treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of the leukotriene receptor agonist montelukast combined with methylprednisolone on inflammatory response and peripheral blood lymphocyte subset content in children with mycoplasma pneumonia. METHODS: Seventy-four children were enrolled and randomly divided into a standard treatment group and a montelukast plus methylprednisolone group. Serum levels of inflammatory cytokines and corresponding cytokines of T lymphocyte subsets were measured, and peripheral blood was collected to determine the T cell subset content. RESULTS: At 3 days and 7 days after treatment, serum MCP-1, PCT, ICAM-1, CXCL8, CRP, IFN-γ, and IL-17 levels and peripheral blood Th1 and Th17 content were significantly decreased in both groups, while serum IL-4 and TGF-β levels and peripheral blood Treg and Th2 content were significantly increased. However, serum MCP-1, PCT, ICAM-1, CXCL8, CRP, IFN-γ, and IL-17 levels and peripheral blood Th1 and Th17 content were significantly lower while serum IL-4 and TGF-β levels and peripheral blood Treg and Th2 content were significantly higher in the montelukast plus methylprednisolone group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Montelukast combined with methylprednisolone for the treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia can inhibit inflammatory responses and regulate levels of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg cells.