Influence of CD36 deficiency on heart disease in children.
BACKGROUND
The physiological role of the CD36 molecule in pediatric heart disease has not been fully investigated.


RESULTS
The CD36 antigen in platelets and monocytes was measured by flow cytometry in 189 patients with various heart diseases; 15 (7.9%) had a diagnosis of CD36 deficiency (type I: 2[1 boy, 1 girl], type II: 13 [6 boys, 7 girls]). The prevalence in each heart disease was as follows: group A (congenital heart disease) 7.6% (9/118, type II: 9 [6 boys, 3 girls]); group B (myocardial disease) 20.0% (3/15, I: 1 girl, II: 2[1 boy, 1 girl]), group C (Kawasaki disease) 4.9% (2/41, II: 2 [1 boy, 1 girl]), group D (arrhythmia): 6.7% (1/15, I: 1 boy). Three patients in group B had transient myocardial damage, which was thought to be related to abnormal myocardial long-chain fatty acid metabolism.


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of CD36 deficiency in childhood heart disease was almost identical to that of healthy individuals. Some patients with CD36 deficiency may be susceptible to myocardial damage in the presence of disadvantageous conditions, such as serious infections or massive steroid therapy.
Teraguchi
Masayuki
M
Department of Pediatrics, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan. teraguch@takii.kmu.ac.jp
Ikemoto
Yumiko
Y
Unishi
Gen
G
Ohkohchi
Hiroyuki
H
Kobayashi
Yohnosuke
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D007462:Iodobenzenes; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D018955:CD36 Antigens; D005227:Fatty Acids; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D007462:Iodobenzenes; C049338:iodofiltic acid