Transforming growth factor-beta gene promoter polymorphism:its association with renal involvement in Henoch-Scholein Purpura in childhood / 소아과

Purpose: Several cytokines play important roles in the inflammatory process of Henoch-Scholein Purpura (HSP). It is likely that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is involved in the pathogenesis of HSP. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether TGF-beta promoter polymorphism is associated with the renal involvement of childhood HSP. Methods: Thirty-four patients younger than 15 years, who had been diagnosed with HSP, as well as 27 controls, were examined. Patients and controls were genotyped for TGF-beta C-509T by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: The T allelic frequencies in patients and controls showed no difference (45% vs. 48.8%). No allele or genotype differences between the group of HSP group and control group were observed. The frequencies of TGF-beta 509 genotypes TT, TC, and CC were no different between patients and controls (26% vs. 22%). The TT genotype of polymorphism of the TGF-beta C-509T gene had no relation to the susceptibility of children to HSP and renal involvement in HSP. Conclusion: TGF-beta T allele may not be related to the susceptibility of children to HSP. The TT genotype of polymorphism of the TGF-beta C 509T gene does not appear to have an influence on renal involvement in childhood HSP.

Association between Coronary Artery Abnormality and Serum Amyloid A in Kawasaki Disease

PURPOSE: Kawasaki disease can cause cardiovascular complications if not properly treated from the beginning. Recently, serum amyloid A(SAA) was reported to be a predictive factor of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, it was examined whether the existence of coronary artery abnormality in Kawasaki disease can be predicted in acute stage. METHODS: Forty nine patients who were diagnosed with Kawasaki disease between October, 2006 and May, 2007 at Yonsei University, Wonju College of Medicine were selected for this study. We reviewed results of CBC, AST, ALT, CK, LDH, total bilirubin, albumin, CRP, CK-MB, troponin-I, LDL, HDL, SAA, ESR. We divided the patients into two groups: Group A consisting of patients with coronary artery lesions, and group B consisting of patients without coronary artery lesions. RESULTS: CRP was significantly higher in group A (group A 11.0+/-7.0 mg/dL vs group B 5.3+/-5.3 mg/dL, P=0.030). SAA was slightly higher in group A but did not show any statistical significance (group A 283.8+/-357.3 microgram/mL vs group B 133.2+/-293.4 microgram/mL, P=0.128). Binary regression analysis was used to identify the significance of SAA as a predictor of coronary artery abnormality but did not find any significance (SAA OR=1.000, 95% CI=0.998-1.002, P=0.950). CONCLUSION: SAA are not significant predictors of coronary artery abnormality in Kawasaki disease but are non specific factors which increase in the acute stage.