Laboratory Values in Patients with Kawasaki Disease after Intravenous Immunoglobulin: Comparison of Patients with Coronary Artery Lesions to those without Coronary Artery Lesions

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We evaluated the effects of intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) on level of laboratory parameters examined serially according to the existence of coronary artery lesions in children with Kawasaki disease. METHODS: Children with Kawasaki disease(n=63), treated with IVIG at a dose of 2.0 g/kg, were classified as a group with coronary artery lesions(CALs+ group, n=9) or a group without coronary artery lesions(CALs- group, n=54). Levels of various laboratory parameters were determined three times during admission; before, 24 hrs after and 7 days after IVIG administration. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in laboratory parameters performing at, before and 7 days after IVIG administration. However WBC and neutrophil counts, and CRP were significantly higher, and the level of albumin was significantly lower at 24 hrs after IVIG administration. CONCLUSION: Approximately 15% of patients with Kawasaki disease showed CALs in the acute stage. Kawasaki disease patients with CALs were associated with persistent elevated levels of inflammatory parameters including WBC count, neutrophil count and CRP examined 24 hours after IVIG administration.