Circulating interleukin 17 is increased in the acute stage of Kawasaki disease

Objectives: During the acute phase, patients with Kawasaki disease (KD), an acute systemic vasculitis, demonstrate a drastic increase in serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), which parallels the duration of the fever. Recently, IL-17 has been reported to induce IL-6 production. The aim of this study was to elucidate the involvement of IL-17 in the pathogenesis of KD. Methods: Serum samples were obtained from patients with KD (n = 30) and normal controls (n = 20), and the concentrations of IL-17 and IL-6 measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA). Results: Compared with the normal controls ( 2.08 +/- 2.14 pg/mL), serum IL-17 was markedly elevated in patients with acute KD ( 25.47 +/- 5.05 pg/mL); levels gradually decreased in the subacute phase (5.94 +/- 2.83 pg/mL). In the acute phase, levels of IL-6 were 83.52 +/- 19.12 pg/L, which correlated well with the serum levels of IL-17. Conclusion: These results suggest that IL-17 may be involved in the development of, or the effects of inflammation in KD.