Plasma endothelial microparticles, TNF-α and IL-6 in Kawasaki disease

Abstract

We studied the levels of endothelial microparticles (EMPs), IL-6, and TNF-a in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD). EMPs were enumerated by flow cytometry, while IL-6 and TNF-a were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. EMPs and IL-6 were elevated in KD, the level of TNF-a in KD was not different from disease controls, but higher than healthy controls. EMPs were positively correlated with TNF-a and negatively correlated with albumin. Elevated level of EMPs, a biomarker of endothelial cells damage, concomitant with increased levels of TNF-a and IL-6, is seen in patients with KD.