Differences in GlycA and lipoprotein particle parameters may help distinguish acute kawasaki disease from other febrile illnesses in children.

BackgroundGlycosylation patterns of serum proteins, such as α1-acid glycoprotein, are modified during an acute phase reaction. The response of acute Kawasaki disease (KD) patients to IVIG treatment has been linked to sialic acid levels on native IgG, suggesting that protein glycosylation patterns vary during the immune response in acute KD. Additionally, the distribution and function of lipoprotein particles are altered during inflammation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the potential for GlycA, a marker of protein glycosylation, and the lipoprotein particle profile to distinguish pediatric patients with acute KD from those with other febrile illnesses.MethodsNuclear magnetic resonance was used to quantify GlycA and lipoprotein particle classes and subclasses in pediatric subjects with acute KD (n = 75), post-treatment subacute (n = 36) and convalescent (n = 63) KD, as well as febrile controls (n = 48), and age-similar healthy controls (n = 48).ResultsGlycA was elevated in acute KD subjects compared to febrile controls with bacterial or viral infections, IVIG-treated subacute and convalescent KD subjects, and healthy children (P <0.0001). Acute KD subjects had increased total and small low density lipoprotein particle numbers (LDL-P) (P <0.0001) and decreased total high density lipoprotein particle number (HDL-P) (P <0.0001) compared to febrile controls. Consequently, the ratio of LDL-P to HDL-P was higher in acute KD subjects than all groups tested (P <0.0001). While GlycA, CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, LDL-P and LDL-P/HDL-P ratio were able to distinguish patients with KD from those with other febrile illnesses (AUC = 0.789-0.884), the combinations of GlycA and LDL-P (AUC = 0.909) or GlycA and the LDL-P/HDL-P ratio (AUC = 0.910) were best at discerning KD in patients 6-10 days after illness onset.ConclusionsHigh levels of GlycA confirm enhanced protein glycosylation as part of the acute phase response in KD patients. When combined with common laboratory tests and clinical characteristics, GlycA and NMR-measured lipoprotein particle parameters may be useful for distinguishing acute KD from bacterial or viral illnesses in pediatric patients

Lipoprotein Particle Concentrations in Children and Adults following Kawasaki Disease

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that children and adults with history of Kawasaki disease (KD) are more likely to have abnormal lipoprotein particle profiles that could place them at increased risk of atherosclerosis later in life. STUDY DESIGN: Fasting serum samples were obtained from 192 children and 63 adults with history of KD and 90 age-similar healthy controls. Lipoprotein particle (P) concentrations and sizes were measured by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy (Liposcience Inc., Raleigh, NC) and serum was assayed for total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL)-C. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL)-C was estimated using the Friedewald formula. Data were analyzed in a least-square means model adjusting for age and sex and using Holm correction for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Compared with respective control groups, both adult and pediatric subjects with KD had significantly lower mean very-low-density lipoprotein-chylomicron particle concentrations (VLDLC-P), intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL), TG, and TC concentrations. Pediatric subjects with KD had significantly lower LDL-P and LDL-C concentrations and lower mean TC/HDL-C ratio (p<0.001). In contrast, the adult subjects with KD had significantly lower HDL-P, small HDL-P, and HDL-C concentrations (p<0.001), but HDL-C was within normal range. CONCLUSIONS: NMR lipoprotein particle analysis suggests that pediatric and adult subjects with KD regardless of their aneurysm status are no more likely than age-similar, healthy controls to have lipid patterns associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis

Additional file 2: Figure S2. of Differences in GlycA and lipoprotein particle parameters may help distinguish acute kawasaki disease from other febrile illnesses in children

Plasma concentrations of GlycA (μmol/L) in acute KD patients who responded to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment, those who were IVIG-resistant, and healthy controls. Noted are acute KD subjects with a normal echocardiogram (solid black symbol) as well as those who developed a CAA (open symbol) or a dilated coronary artery (solid gray symbol). ns = not statistically significant. Horizontal bars represent median and interquartile range. (PPTX 58 kb