The Immunologic Profiles of Kawasaki Disease Triggered by Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection

ObjectiveWe 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-Schonlein purpura (MP-HSP), and with healthy controls.MethodsComplement levels, cellular and humoral immunity were assessed in KD, in MP-KD, in MP-HSP, and in healthy children.ResultsOf 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.ConclusionsBoth C3 and polyclonal CD4(+) T lymphocytes may be activated in the patients with MP-KD.

Automated summary

In this study, the immunologic characteristics of mycoplasma pneumoniae-triggered Kawasaki disease (MP-KD) were compared with Kawasaki disease (KD) not associated with mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP), mycoplasma pneumoniae-triggered Henoch-Schonlein purpura (MP-HSP), and healthy controls. The results showed that complement C3 and CD4/CD8 ratio were significantly higher in the MP-KD group compared to the KD group. The MP-KD group also exhibited higher levels of C3, C4, and CD4/CD8 ratio compared to the MP-HSP group, while IgA and CD56 levels were lower.