Serum levels of neutrophil activation cytokines in Kawasaki disease

Background: The aim of the present study was: to investigate whether neutro phils are early effector cells for vascular endothelial damage in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (KD) by examining serial changes in neutrophil c ounts and serum levels of neutrophil activation cytokines, such as granuloc yte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and interleukin (IL)-8. Methods: From October 1994 to June 1998, a total of 52 patients with KD wer e included in the study. Thirty-three patients had some infectious diseases , while 20 healthy children served as control subjects. Serial changes in n eutrophils were counted by the optimal Wright-Giemsa staining method and se rum levels: of IL-8 and G-CSF in patients with KD were measured by an enzym e-linked immunosorbent assay system. Results: Serum C-CSF levels both before and after intravenous immunoglobuli n therapy (IVIG; P< 0.05) and neutrophil counts after IVIG (P < 0.005) were higher in KD patients with coronary arterial lesions (CAL) than those with out GAL. However, serum IL-8 levels before and after IVIG showed no signifi cant differences in these two groups. Conclusions: These data suggest that neutrophils may be important as early effector cells for vascular endothelial damage and that C-CSF may play a mo re important role than IL-8 in KD.