Abstract
In order to elucidate airway lesions and disorders of mucociliary transport system in Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) pneumonia, bronchofiberscopy, broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL), and aerosol inhalation cine-scintigraphy (AICS) were conducted in 6 cases of M. pneumoniae pneumonia. Bronchofiberscopic findings revealed redness and swelling of the bilateral bronchial mucosa in all cases and purulent secretion in 5 of 6 cases. Histological findings of bronchofiberscopic biopsy showed the desquamation and swelling of bronchial epithelial cells, broncho-bronchiolitis and alveolitis. The analysis of broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) contents demonstrated an increase of total cell counts and proportion of lymphocytes and neutrophils. AICS findings at one month from the onset disclosed that in 3 of 4 cases, either bolus formations or movements were absent, indicating severe impairment of mucociliary clearance. Futhermore, the impairment of mucociliary clearance still remained even 3 months from the onset in one subject. These findings suggested that there were both extensive and severe airway disorders in M. pneumoniae pneumonia.
