Correlation between brachial artery flow-mediated dilation and endothelial microparticle levels for identifying endothelial dysfunction in children with Kawasaki disease

BACKGROUND: We investigated vascular endothelial dysfunction by sonographic features of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and circulating endothelial microparticles (EMPs) in Kawasaki disease (KD). METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with KD were prospectively grouped according to stage of disease: acute, subacute, and convalescent. In addition, 28 healthy children and 28 febrile children were selected as controls. And cases in the convalescent phase were divided into two subgroups: coronary artery lesion (CAL) and no coronary lesion (NCAL). CD144(+)/CD42b(-), CD62E(+), and CD105(+) EMPs were measured by flow cytometry; FMD was obtained by sonography. RESULTS: There were significant differences in FMD among the five groups. When compared with healthy controls, there were significantly greater numbers of CD144(+)/CD42b(-), CD62E(+), and CD105(+) EMPs and a higher proportion of CD62E(+) EMPs in KD patients. The proportions and numbers of CD144(+)/CD42b(-), CD62E(+), and CD105(+) EMPs in KD patients were not statistically different than in febrile controls. There were no significant differences in FMD and EMPs between the CAL and NCAL subgroups. There were significantly negative correlations between the values of FMD and EMPs in the three phases of KD. CONCLUSION: The increased levels of EMPs have significant correlation with decreased values of FMD, both of which may reflect endothelial dysfunction in child KD.