The Immunologic Profiles of Kawasaki Disease Triggered by Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection

Abstract

Objective

We compared the immunologic characteristics of mycoplasma pneumoniae-triggered Kawasaki disease (MP-KD) with Kawasaki disease (KD) not associated with mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP), with mycoplasma pneumoniae-triggered Henoch-Schönlein purpura (MP-HSP), and with healthy controls.

Methods

Complement levels, cellular and humoral immunity were assessed in KD, in MP-KD, in MP-HSP, and in healthy children.

Results

Of 622 children with KD, 74 had MP-KD. Complement C3 and CD4/CD8 ratio were significantly increased in MP-KD compared to KD. C3, C4, and the ratio of CD4/CD8 in the MP-KD group were higher than those in the MP-HSP group. IgA and CD56 were lower in the MP-KD group than the MP-HSP group.

Conclusions

Both C3 and polyclonal CD4⁺ T lymphocytes may be activated in the patients with MP-KD.

Keywords:

• Kawasaki disease
• mycoplasma pneumoniae
• children

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.