The role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and adiponectin in children with Kawasaki disease

Objective To investigate the relationship between peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) mRNA, serum adiponectin (ADP) and lipids in paediatric patients with Kawasaki disease (KD). Methods This prospective study enrolled paediatric patients with KD and grouped them according to the presence or absence of coronary artery lesions (CAL). A group of healthy age-matched children were recruited as the control group. The levels of PPAR gamma mRNA, serum ADP and lipids were compared between the groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was undertaken to determine if the PPAR gamma mRNA level could be used as a predictive biomarker of CAL prognosis. Results The study enrolled 42 patients with KD (18 with CAL [CAL group] and 24 without CAL [NCAL group]) and 20 age-matched controls. PPAR gamma mRNA levels in patients with KD were significantly higher than those in the controls; but significantly lower in the CAL group than the NCAL group. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the PPAR gamma mRNA level provided good predictive accuracy for the prognosis of CAL. There was no association between PPAR gamma, ADP and lipid levels. Conclusion There was dyslipidaemia in children with KD, but there was no correlation with PPAR gamma and ADP. PPAR gamma may be a predictor of CAL in patients with KD with good predictive accuracy.