title: Dynamics of endogenous glucocorticoid secretion and its metabolism in Kawasaki disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3124, Japan. sanosin2u@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwashima
authors.forename: Takamichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Eiichiro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Satake
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: Eiko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Toshiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: Takehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohzeki
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases