Dynamics of endogenous glucocorticoid secretion and its metabolism in Kawasaki disease.
OBJECTIVE
Kawasaki disease (KD) is a severe inflammatory disease that occurs in childhood. Recently, the initial corticosteroid therapy for KD has been reconsidered because its efficacy is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamic change in endogenous glucocorticoid levels and their relation with 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD) activity in the acute phase of KD.


METHODS
Sixteen KD patients were investigated. Cortisol and cortisone levels, the cortisol/cortisone ratio and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured on admission, before the first intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy and convalescence.


RESULTS
The 16 patients were divided into two groups. Group A included patients who received the first IVIG on admission and blood samples were collected before the first IVIG and convalescence. Group B included patients whose blood samples were collected at three different time points (on admission, before the first IVIG, and convalescence). CRP and cortisol levels and the cortisol/cortisol ratio were markedly higher before the first IVIG than those of convalescence in all patients except in one patient. In Group B patients, both serum cortisol levels and the cortisol/cortisone ratio on admission were significantly increased compared with those before the first IVIG (cortisol: p<0.005, cortisol/cortisone: p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Decreases in cortisol levels and the cortisol/cortisone ratio before the first IVIG may be explained by a reduction in adrenal secretion and/or local glucocorticoid action through 11beta-HSD activity. These findings suggest that exogenous glucocorticoid treatment in combination with the first IVIG at the acute stage may play a synergetic role in KD.
Sano
Shinichiro
S
Department of Pediatrics, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3124, Japan. sanosin2u@yahoo.co.jp
Nakagawa
Yuichi
Y
Iwashima
Satoru
S
Ishikawa
Takamichi
T
Satake
Eiichiro
E
Matsushita
Rie
R
Nagata
Eiko
E
Yamaguchi
Rie
R
Nakanishi
Toshiki
T
Ohzeki
Takehiko
T
D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases