Significance of Serum NT-proBNP and Endogenous H₂S for Predicting Coronary Artery Lesions in Pediatric Kawasaki Disease

Abstract

Kawasaki disease (KD) is also called mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome and can affect children aged six months to five years. Kawasaki disease is characterised by a high activation of the immune system and vasculitis and manifests as acute fever, rash and lymphadenectasis. 1 The coronary artery is generally susceptible, and 20%-25% of KD children, who do not receive treatment, have a coronary artery lesion (CAL). This may even lead to a coronary artery aneurysm or thrombus; therefore, KD is an important pathogenic factor for secondary heart disease. 2 Presently, the diagnosis of KD mainly depends on the clinical manifestations, and there is a lack of specific indicators. In addition, CAL can be detected only 2-3 weeks after KD attack. 3 Seeking detection indicators with good specificity is significant for the auxiliary diagnosis of KD, CAL reduction and prognosis improvement. NT-proBNP is a polypeptide that is secreted and synthesised by ventricle muscle cells after an external stimulus, and it is often used to diagnose acute congestive heart failure and assess prognosis. 4,5 Endogenous H 2 S, which is a gas signal transduction molecule, plays an important role in protecting the cardiovascular system and can regulate inflammatory cytokines. 6 IL-6 is an important member of the cytokine family and is also an important indicator reflecting the severity class of heart failure. 7,8 The aim of this study was to determine serum NT-proBNP, H 2 S, and IL-6 levels in children with KD and correlate with the occurrence of CAL.