Oxidative Stress in Kawasaki Disease Patients with Coronary Artery Lesions

Abstract

Objective: Oxidative stress may play an important role in the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD). The literature regarding the involvement of oxidative stress in KD is limited. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of oxidative stress and coronary artery lesions (CALs) in KD. Methods: The study enrolled 18 KD patients (1.73±1.69 yrs, M/F 10/8) and 10 normal controls (1.80±1.5l yrs, M/F 6/4). The KD patients were further classified into those with CALS (n=9) and without CALs (n=9) in acute stage. All KD patients had no CALs in chronic stage. Total antioxidant power was measured. Results: In KD patients, total antioxidant power (TAP) levels increased significantly from pre-IVIG to subacute phase (pre-IVIG vs subacute, p＜O.OO 1), and declined significantly in convalescent phase (subacute vs convalescent, p=0.009). In KD patients with CALs, TAP levels after IVIG treatment (pre-IVIG vs post-IVIG, p=0.015) increased significantly from pre-IVIG to subacute phase (pre-IVIG vs subacute, p=0.008), and declined significantly in convalescent phase (subaucte vs convalescent, p=0.008). In KD patients without CALs, TAP levels after IVIG treatment (pre-IVIG vs post-IVIG, p=0.327) did not increase significantly until subacute phase (post-IVIG vs subaucte, p=0.086), but there was a significant difference of TAP levels between pre-IVIG and subacute phases (pre-IVIG vs subacute, p=0.008). In KD patients without CALs, TAP levels in convalescent phase were not significantly lower than those in subacute phase (subacute vs convalescent, p=0.5l5), but still significantly higher than those in preIVIG phase (pre-IVIG vs convalescent, p=0.008). Various phases of TAP levels in KD patients without CALs were not significantly higher than those in normal controls. Subacute-phase TAP in KD patients without CALs were significantly lower than those in KD patients with CALs. Conclusions: Our findings suggest the longer duration of high TAP in KD patients with CALs may reflect the more obvious oxidative stress.