Myeloperoxidase genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility to Kawasaki disease in Taiwanese children

Background/purposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the myeloperoxidase (MPO) -463G>A polymorphism in Kawasaki disease (KD) patients, and the relationship between gene polymorphism and MPO levels.MethodsA total of 334 KD children and 492 sex-matched controls were assayed for polymorphism analysis. TaqMan assays were used for genotyping. MPO was measured in 37 KD patients and 42 febrile controls.ResultsA significant linear trend of KD risk was found to be related to the G/G genotype (plinear trend = 0.032). The combined genotypes (G/A and A/A) of MPO -463G>A were associated with a significantly decreased KD risk compared to the G/G genotype [adjusted odds ratios (AOR) = 0.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.52-0.99, p = 0.040]. In addition, KD patients with A allele were associated with a significantly decreased KD risk as compared to those with G allele (AOR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.54-0.98, p = 0.033). MPO levels were significantly elevated in KD patients in preintravenous immunoglobulin (pre-IVIG) stage compared to febrile controls (p = 0.002). KD patients in pre-IVIG stage had significantly higher MPO levels than febrile controls in terms of G/G genotype (p = 0.003) and G allele (p < 0.001). KD patients with A allele had significantly lower MPO levels than those with G allele in post-IVIG acute stage (p = 0.042). However, there was no significant difference of individual MPO change for KD patients from pre- to post-IVIG stage in terms of genotypes (p = 0.837) or alleles (p = 0.631).ConclusionOur results suggest that G allele of MPO -463G>A polymorphism is a potential genetic marker for KD risk in Taiwanese children.