title: Interleukin-18 and coronary artery lesions in patients with Kawasaki disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interleukin-18 (IL-18) plays an important role in mediating cytokine cascade leading to coronary artery lesions (CALs) in Kawasaki disease (KD). However, our research suggested that the literature regarding IL-18 and KD is limited. Consequently, this study aimed to evaluate the correlation between IL-18 and CALs in patients with KD.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study of 14 children with KD (seven without and seven with CALs in the acute phase), we obtained patient measurements of a series of serum IL-18 levels in the acute, subacute, and convalescent phases. Serum IL-18 levels were measured with a Bio-Plex cytokine assay. Control samples were obtained from 18 febrile children with viral infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with febrile controls, patients with acute-stage CALs [postintravenous immunoglobulin (post-IVIG) period] had a significantly higher IL-18 level (88.4 ± 20.7 vs 56.0 ± 35.0 pg/mL, p = 0.006). However, those without acute-stage CALs (post-IVIG period) lacked similarly elevated IL-18 level readings (62.0 ± 40.6 vs 56.0 ± 35.0 pg/mL, p = 0.762). The IL-18 level of patients with acute-stage CALs did not decrease significantly until the convalescent phase (97.4 ± 55.8 vs 38.7 ± 22.6 pg/mL, p = 0.018), but for those without CALs, it decreased significantly in the subacute phase (60.2 ± 37.4 vs 23.6 ± 13.8 pg/mL, p = 0.018). In the subacute stage, there was a significant difference of IL-18 level between patients with and without acute-stage CALs (p = 0.048).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show that IL-18 levels were elevated in the acute phase of KD and might be related to the formation of CALs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Ken-Pen
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Kai-Sheng
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Shih-Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shan-F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: Tsung-Jen
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Chia-Wan
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Chu-Chuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Tsyr-Yuh
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Huei-Han
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.forename: Luo-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Ger
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D020382:Interleukin-18; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Kawasaki disease; coronary artery lesions; interleukin-18