Significant relationship between serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and children with Kawasaki disease and coronary artery lesions.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to understand the association between Kawasaki disease (KD) in children and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), which is a sensitive indicator of inflammation, lipid profiles and coronary artery lesions.


METHODS
Between July 2005 and December 2007, 119 children with KD at least 1 year after diagnosis were recruited. The children were classified into one of two groups: Group I comprised 55 children with KD and coronary aneurysms; Group 2 comprised 64 children with KD and normal coronary arteries. The relationship between hs-CRP concentration and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and the size of arterial lesions was investigated in Group I 1 year after onset of KD.


RESULTS
Serum hs-CRP levels in Group I (mean, 0.251 mg/dL) were significantly greater than those in Group II (mean, 0.162 mg/dL; p = 0.011). However, plasma HDL-C levels in Group I (mean 42.51 mg/dL) were significantly lower than those in Group II (mean, 44.34 mg/dL; p = 0.037). In Group I, there was a positive association between hs-CRP and the size of coronary artery lesions (r = 0.672, p = 0.035), but no association between lipid profiles, including HDL-C, and coronary artery lesions (all p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results support the possibility of ongoing low-grade inflammation late after the acute phase of KD in children with coronary aneurysms. Serum hs-CRP and HDL-C levels are associated with coronary artery lesions in children with KD.
Department of Pediatrics, Lucina Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Chun-Yen
CY
Ou
Yu-Fang
YF
Tseng
Cheng-Liang
CL
Lee
Yee-Hsuan
YH
Chiou
Kai-Sheng
KS
Hsieh
D000293:Adolescent; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000097:blood*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D002097:C-Reactive Protein