Levels of Serum HDL-cholesterol and Total Cholestetol in Kawasaki Disease and Their Significance

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The value of serum lipid in children after recovery of Kawasaki disease may be important bacause of the predilection of this disease for the coronary artery. METHODS: To determine the alterations in serum total cholesterol(TC) and high density lipoprotein(HDL)-cholesterol levels in Kawasaki disease(KD), we measured serum HDL-cholesterol and TC in 35 patients(mean age 36.8+/-22.0 months, range 6 to 93 months) with Kawasaki disease(KD) during 10 days or less after the onset(group A) and 2 months later after recovery. TC and HDL-cholesterol were also measured in an acute febrile respiratory illness group(group B) and a nonfebrile respiratory illness group(group C) to compare with those of KD. RESULTS: HDL-cholesterol levels in group A were depressed(29.6+/-11.0mg/dl) compared with group B and C(47.3+/-13.3mg/dl and 45.1+/-12.4mg.dl, respectively, p<0.01). TC levels in group A(145.1+/-33.1mg/dl) were not significantly different from those of group B(146.8+/-33.4mg/dl) and C(157.1+/-29.6mg/dl). Also the level of serum HDL-cholesterol in the acute phase of KD was significantly lower when compared with that after recovery(30.2+/-13.2mg/dl vs 50.0+/-10.2mg/dl, p<0.05). In KD patients, TC levels were not significantly different between the acute & recovery phase(145.0+/-26.6mg/dl, 153.4+/-32.6mg/dl). Echo-cardiography confirmed coronary artery aneurysms in 11 patients(31.4%) and otherwise, normal findings(n=24) in the KD group. There were no significant difference in TC level(140.7+/-27.6mg/dl vs. 146.9+/-35.4mg/dl, p=NS) and HDL cholesterol level(30.1+/-12.5mg/dl vs. 29.2+/-10.7mg/dl, p=NS) between patients with and without coronary aneurysms. CONCLUSIONS: HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly depressed only in the acute phase of KD but TC levels did not change significantly. Both levels were not related to coronary artery aneurysm.