Increased concentrations of growth differentiation factor-15 in children with Kawasaki disease

Abstract

BackgroundWe investigated the serum concentrations of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) in children with acute Kawasaki disease (KD) and evaluate its role in predicting coronary artery lesions (CALs) and no response KD. MethodsWe obtained blood sample from 30 healthy children and 131 children with KD before intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. Serum GDF-15 concentrations were measured using ELISA kits. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted to evaluate the potential association between GDF-15 and the occurrence of CALs and treatment responses. ResultsSerum GDF-15 concentrations in KD were remarkably increased compared with healthy control. Serum GDF-15 concentrations in KD with CALs were also increased compared with no CALs, and in no response KD compared with response KD. Serum of GDF-15 concentrations was positively correlated with white blood cell count, C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and negatively associated with albumin and pre-albumin in all patients with KD. GDF-15 was an independent predictor of CALs and no response KD. GDF-15 was superior to CRP and ESR, while it was not inferior to the combination of CRP and ESR for predicting CALs. ConclusionsSerum of GDF-15 concentrations was significantly increased in acute KD patients, especially in KD with CALs and no response KD. GDF-15 could sever as an independent predictor for CALs and no response KD.