This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic utility of serum carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 6 (CEACAM6) and CEACAM8 levels in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). This single-center prospective cohort study enrolled 364 children with confirmed MPP and 160 age-matched healthy controls between February 2023 and May 2025. Serum levels of CEACAM6, CEACAM8, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), D-dimer, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and myeloperoxidase were measured at admission using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients were classified into good- (n = 295) or poor-prognosis (n = 69) groups after 1 week of standardized azithromycin therapy based on clinical, radiological, and spirometric criteria. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of poor outcome. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis assessed the predictive performance of CEACAM6 and CEACAM8, individually and in combination, with corresponding areas under the curve. Correlations with inflammatory markers were evaluated using the Spearman rank correlation test. Children with poor outcomes had significantly higher CEACAM6 and CEACAM8 levels at admission (both P < .001). Multivariable analysis identified elevated CEACAM6 (odds ratio = 1.12, 95% confidence interval = 1.05–1.19) and CEACAM8 (odds ratio = 1.09, 95% confidence interval = 1.03–1.15) as independent predictors of poor prognosis. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis demonstrated areas under the curve of 0.771 for CEACAM6, 0.755 for CEACAM8, and 0.826 for their combination. Both biomarkers correlated positively with interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and myeloperoxidase (all P < .01) and declined significantly after treatment. Serum CEACAM6 and CEACAM8 are independently associated with poor outcomes in pediatric MPP. Their combined use enhances prognostic accuracy and may support early risk stratification in clinical practice.
Ge et al. (Fri,) studied this question.