Serum levels of C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein-1 in children with Kawasaki disease

Background To investigate the serum C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein-1 (CTRP1) levels in children with acute Kawasaki disease (KD), as well as the relationship between CTRP1 levels and laboratory variables. Methods Eighty-seven children with KD and 38 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. General characteristics were obtained from all subjects. Serum CTRP1 levels in all subjects and serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in KD patients were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Compared with the HC group, serum CTRP1 levels were significantly elevated in the KD group. Significantly higher serum TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and CTRP1 levels were observed in patients with KD with coronary artery lesions (KD-CALs) than in patients with KD without CALs (KD-NCALs). Serum CTRP1 levels were positively correlated with white blood cell counts (WBC), percentage of neutrophils (N%), thrombin time (TT), procalcitonin (Pct), TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels. Meanwhile, CTRP1 levels were negatively correlated with the percentage of leukomonocytes (L%) in KD patients. Furthermore, serum CTRP1 levels were positively correlated with the time point of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), WBC, N%, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels in the KD-CAL group. Conclusion CTRP1 may participate in the process of vasculitis and blood coagulation during the acute phase of KD.