Mycoplasma pneumoniae induced popliteal artery thrombosis treated with urokinase

C U Joo1, J S Kim, Y M Han

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Chonju, Korea. joocu@moak.chonbuk.ac.kr

Insights

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection can cause rare complications like popliteal artery thrombosis in children. Intra-arterial urokinase successfully treated this serious vascular complication, leading to recovery.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Vascular Medicine
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common respiratory pathogen.
  • Extrapulmonary manifestations of Mycoplasma pneumoniae are increasingly recognized.
  • Popliteal artery thrombosis is a rare but serious complication.

Observation:

  • A 5-year-old boy presented with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.
  • The infection was complicated by acute popliteal artery thrombosis.
  • The patient exhibited serological and clinical evidence of infection.

Findings:

  • Intra-arterial urokinase therapy was administered in conjunction with medical management.
  • The treatment resulted in complete clinical recovery.
  • Angiographic imaging confirmed resolution of the popliteal artery thrombus.

Implications:

  • This case highlights a rare extrapulmonary complication of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.
  • Intra-arterial thrombolysis with urokinase is a viable treatment option for arterial thrombosis secondary to infection.
  • Physicians should consider thrombolytic therapy in similar pediatric cases involving vascular complications.

Related Concept Videos

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists01:23

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists

Prostacyclin receptor agonists are a class of therapeutic agents integral to managing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). These drugs operate by mimicking the action of prostaglandin I2, or PGI2, a naturally occurring compound in the body.
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care01:29

Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care

Venous thrombosis requires effective prevention and treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes and reduce potential complications.Prevention StrategiesHealthcare providers must prioritize preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) for all adult patients upon admission. Interventions depend on bleeding and thrombosis risk, medical history, current medications, diagnoses, planned procedures, and patient preferences. Patients on bed rest should change positions every two hours and, if not...
Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care01:29

Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care

Diagnosing Pulmonary EmbolismDiagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE) involves clinical assessment and advanced imaging tests. The preferred diagnostic tool is the spiral (helical) CT scan or CT angiography (CTA), which uses intravenous contrast media to visualize the pulmonary vasculature and identify emboli.A ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan is an alternative for patients unable to receive contrast media. This scan includes both perfusion and ventilation scanning. Perfusion scanning involves...
Acute Pyelonephritis I: Introduction01:27

Acute Pyelonephritis I: Introduction

Pyelonephritis is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the renal parenchyma and collecting system, including the renal pelvis, tubules, and interstitial tissue of one or both kidneys. It can be classified as either acute—a sudden, severe infection—or chronic, which refers to long-term or recurrent kidney infections.The primary cause of acute pyelonephritis (APN) is bacterial infection, with Escherichia coli accounting for approximately 70-80% of cases. Other bacteria, such as Proteus,...
Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management01:28

Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management

Introduction:For diagnosing acute pyelonephritis, a comprehensive patient history is collected to identify symptoms such as dysuria, frequent or urgent urination, flank pain, or costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness that may suggest a kidney infection.Physical ExaminationDuring the physical examination, CVA tenderness is assessed. This involves gentle percussion over the costovertebral angle, where tenderness often indicates a kidney infection.Diagnostic TestsUrinalysis: Used to identify white...
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...