title: Analysis of arterial function in adults with a history of Kawasaki disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It remains controversial whether Kawasaki disease (KD) is a risk factor for the early onset of atherosclerosis. The purpose of the present study was to assess endothelial function and arterial stiffness as markers of the early onset of atherosclerosis in adult patients with a history of KD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared 14 adult patients with a history of KD with 41 healthy controls. To assess arterial endothelial function, we measured the reactive hyperemia-peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) index and augmentation index adjusted to 75 bpm (AIx@75) using the Endo-PAT 2000 (Itamar Medical, Caesarea, Israel). In addition, we analyzed medical history, blood pressure, lifestyle habits, and atherosclerosis-related serum biochemical markers [asymmetric dimethylarginine, adiponectin, lipoprotein (a), cholesterols, atherogenic index of plasma].
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference between the KD and control groups with regard to the RH-PAT index values (2.10 ± 0.43 and 1.84 ± 0.49, respectively; p=0.19). However, in the KD group, the RH-PAT index values were negatively correlated with the febrile period in the acute phase of disease (r(2)=0.458, p=0.048). In addition, the AIx@75 values were higher in KD patients compared to healthy controls (-7.69 ± 11.86% and -15.87 ± 8.72%, respectively; p=0.01). No significant differences existed between the KD and control groups with regard to the serum biomarkers of atherosclerosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We speculate that endothelial dysfunction in former KD patients is affected by the febrile period of the acute phase, and antiplatelet drugs may improve endothelial function. The increased arterial stiffness of patients caused by post-inflammatory fibrotic changes in the arterial wall indicates that adults with a history of KD have an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisako
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tobayama
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fukunaga
authors.forename: Kotoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Mana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: Hisayuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akimoto
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kishiro
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers