Lipid Profile Changes in Kawasaki Disease Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Abnormality in the composition of lipid metabolism is well known to be a main cause of atherosclerosis. Accordingly the abnormality in lipid metabolism after suffering from Kawasaki disease may lead to premature coronary atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to investigate the abnormalities of lipid metabolism in patients with Kawasaki disease. We studied 67 patients with Kawasaki disease. METHODS: We serially measured total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride(period 1 at admission, period 2 24-48 hours after the defervescence, period 3 2-3 weeks after the onset of disease, period 4 2-3 months after the onset of disease, period 5 6 months after the onset of disease, period 6 1 year after the onset of disease, period 7 2 years after the onset of disease). RESULTS: In patients with Kawasaki disease, HDL was relatively low(P=0.07) in the acute stage (period 2) compared with control group, but recovered in the subacute stage(period 3) and stayed the same level. Total cholesterol was low(P=0.02) in the acute stage(period 1) compared with control group, but recovered in the subacute stage(period 3) and stayed at the same level. CONCLUSION: Kawasaki disease, a systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology, may cause abnormalities in lipid metabolism, especially at the acute stage by affecting endothelial metabolism. To understand the long-term effect of this metabolic abnormalities, we have to study more patients for a longer period of time.