KAWASAKI-DISEASE AND OXIDATIVE-METABOLISM

The plasmid lipid peroxidation products: malonyldialdehyde (MDA), organic hydroperoxides (OHP) and zinc peripheral values were analysed in seven children with Kawasaki disease, in the acute phase, before and after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins. In the acute phase, plasma levels of MDA (2.95 ± 0.30 μmol/l, control group: 2.52 ± 0.08 μmol/l) and OHP (235 ± 65 μmol/l, control group: 120 ± 10) were increased (p<0.05 and p< 0.01). Moreover, plasma zinc levels were significantly decreased (10 ± 2.15 μmol/l versus 15.6 ± 2.5 μmol/l in control group, p<0.05). After treatment with immunoglobulins, MDA, OHP and plasma zinc levels returned to normal. The parallel normalisation of clinical injury draws attention to the possible role of oxygen intermediates in connective tissue degradation and in the pathogenesis of vascular abnormalities in Kawasaki disease. © 1990.