Plasma Endothelial Microparticles, TNF-α and IL-6 in Kawasaki Disease.

ABSTRACT

Kawasaki disease (KD). EMPs were enumerated by flow cytometry, while IL-6 and TNF-α were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. EMPs and IL-6 were elevated in KD, the level of TNF-α in KD was not different from disease controls, but higher than healthy controls. EMPs were positively correlated with TNF-α and negatively correlated with albumin. Elevated level of EMPs, a biomarker of endothelial cells damage, concomitant with increased levels of TNF-α and IL-6, is seen in patients with KD.