Relationship between adipokines and coronary artery aneurysm in children with Kawasaki disease

Body fat is an important source of adipokines not only in association with energy balance, but also with inflammatory and immune responses. This study investigated the relationship between serum levels of adipokines and coronary artery aneurysm in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD). Levels of leptin, adiponectin, and resistin were measured in 165 cases, including 4 groups: the control group (n = 85), KD with normal coronary arteries (n = 41), KD with dilatation and/or ectasia (n = 31), and KD with coronary aneurysm (n = 8). White blood cells counts (WBC), red blood cells counts (RBC), hemoglobin (HB), Hematocrit (Hct), platelet count, C reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were tested in children. Levels of adiponectin and resistin levels were significantly elevated; hemoglobin significantly decreased in the group of KD with coronary aneurysm compared with the controls or other KD subgroups. There were markedly positive relationships between levels of resistin and CRP, and negative relationships between levels of resistin and RBC in patients with KD. Levels of adiponectin, resistin, and hemoglobin were associated with the development of coronary aneurysm in children with KD. The up-regulation of resistin secreted from adipose tissue may be closely linked to up-regulation of systemic proinflammatory markers in acute KD.