title: IL-31 associated with coronary artery lesion formation in Kawasaki disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kawasaki disease (KD) is known to be associated with T help (Th) 2 reaction and subsequently allergic diseases. Interleukin-31 (IL-31) has also been reported to be involved in Th2 mediated diseases such as allergic diseases. However, the role of IL-31 in KD has not been previously reported. The aim of this study is to investigate whether IL-31 is associated with KD and its clinical outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 78 KD patients who met the criteria of KD were enrolled in this study as well as 20 age-matched controls. Plasma samples were conducted to measure IL-31 before intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment (KD1), within 3 days after IVIG treatment (KD2) and at least 3 weeks after IVIG treatment (KD3) by utilizing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our findings showed that IL-31 expression was higher in KD patients after IVIG treatment significantly (KD2>KD1: 1265.0±199.3 vs. 840.2±152.5 pg/ml, p<0.0001). Further analysis revealed that IL-31 level was significantly higher in KD patients with coronary artery lesion (CAL) (656.6±139.5 vs. 1373.0±422.0 pg/ml, p = 0.04) before IVIG treatment (KD1). There were no significant differences between the IVIG resistance and IVIG responsiveness groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-31 was increased after IVIG treatment in patients with KD and was significantly associated with CAL formation. The results from this study may help to identify a novel risk factor for predicting KD and CAL formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Kawasaki Disease Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wan-Ning
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Kawasaki Disease Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mao-Hung
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Kawasaki Disease Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mindy Ming-Huey
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Kawasaki Disease Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kai-Sheng
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Chiao
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Kawasaki Disease Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ho-Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: C502187:IL31 protein, human; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007378:Interleukins