Abstract
Background:
The mechanisms underpinning Kawasaki disease (KD) are incompletely understood. There is an unmet need for specific biomarkers for the early diagnosis of KD.
Methods:
Eighty-five KD patients suffering from acute-phase and subacute-phase KD, 40 healthy children, and 40 febrile children comprised the study cohort. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure plasma levels of C1q, C1q-circulating immune complex (C1q-CIC), mannan-binding lectin-associated serine protease (MASP)-1, factor B, C4d, C3d, C5a, C5b-9 and CD59.
Results:
Plasma concentrations of factor B and C5a in the acute phase were lower than those in healthy and febrile control groups (all P < 0.05). Compared with acute-phase KD patients, plasma concentrations of C1q, factor B, and C3d in KD patients were increased significantly (P < 0.05), but those of C4d, MASP-1 and CD59 decreased significantly (P < 0.05), in patients with sub-acute KD.
Conclusion:
These data suggest that more than one pathway in the complement system is activated in KD. Importantly, decreased plasma concentrations of factor B and C5a in the acute phase (6–10 d) could be employed as biomarkers for the early diagnosis of KD.
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Zou, QM., Li, XH., Song, RX. et al. Early decreased plasma levels of factor B and C5a are important biomarkers in children with Kawasaki disease. Pediatr Res 78, 205–211 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2015.81
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2015.81
